ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State on Thursday formally declared his intention to contest the 2027 presidential election, saying Nigeria urgently needs a political and economic reset.
Makinde made the declaration during a mega rally held in Ibadan to officially announce a political alliance between the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and the Allied Peoples Movement, APM, ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Oyo governor said the newly formed alliance was aimed at strengthening opposition politics and providing Nigerians with an alternative platform capable of rescuing the country from its present challenges.
Addressing thousands of supporters at the rally, Makinde lamented the worsening economic hardship across the country, insisting that Nigerians could no longer afford to remain passive observers while the nation’s fortunes continued to decline.
According to him, the survival of democracy depends largely on the existence of a vibrant multi-party system capable of holding those in power accountable.
“Without a multi-party system, there is no democracy. Where is our multi-party system? Where do we go from here?” he asked.
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Makinde said opposition parties must rise above individual interests and unite in order to confront what he described as the growing frustrations facing ordinary Nigerians.
“We have been pushed to the wall. The opposition cannot continue to divide itself while Nigerians suffer daily hardship. The real opposition today is the everyday Nigerian struggling to survive,” he said.
The governor urged citizens to become active participants in the democratic process rather than remain spectators watching events unfold from the sidelines.
“This is the time for all of us to ensure Nigeria works for us. This is the time to confront our fears. It is time to engage as citizens and not spectators,” he declared.
Makinde also called on opposition political parties across the country to embrace unity and collective action ahead of the 2027 elections.
“For opposition political parties, this is the time to unite and work together to give our nation the reset it desperately needs,” he added.
Speaking on the PDP-APM alliance, the governor described Ibadan as “the city of warriors” and said the coalition marked the beginning of a broader political movement that would reshape Nigeria’s political landscape.
“The time to reset Nigeria is now. Ibadan is the city of warriors. The first grand alliance has been formed. The PDP and APM alliance is now in place,” he said.
Makinde disclosed that the alliance would field candidates for various elective offices across the country, from the presidency down to the State Houses of Assembly.
“This handshake will allow us to field candidates from the presidency to the State Assembly,” he stated.
The governor then formally declared his presidential ambition before cheering supporters.
“And so, I hereby declare my candidacy for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Makinde announced.
The development is expected to further reshape ongoing political realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections, as opposition parties intensify efforts to build coalitions capable of challenging the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.