Makinde Declares for 2027 Presidency, Announces PDP-APM Alliance

Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has officially declared his intention to contest the 2027 presidential election, unveiling a new political alliance between a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party and the Allied Peoples Movement ahead of the polls.

Makinde made the announcement on Thursday during a joint mega-rally organised by the PDP faction and the APM at Mapo Hall.

Addressing supporters at the event, the governor said Nigeria urgently needed a political reset, declaring that worsening economic hardship and insecurity had pushed many citizens into daily survival struggles.

“The time to reset Nigeria is now,” Makinde declared as he formally announced his bid for the presidency.

The governor criticised the current state of governance in the country, arguing that many public officials had failed in their responsibility to improve the welfare of ordinary Nigerians.

According to him, the growing hardship facing citizens had created frustration and uncertainty about the nation’s future.

Makinde also dismissed claims that opposition parties could not unite ahead of the 2027 elections, insisting that Nigerians dissatisfied with current conditions represented a broader opposition movement beyond party structures.

“The opposition in Nigeria is not just a political party. The opposition is the everyday Nigerian for whom the country does not work,” he said.

As part of the political realignment, Makinde announced a formal alliance between the PDP faction led by former Minister of Special Duties Tanimu Turaki and the APM.

The alliance agreement was signed in Ibadan by Makinde and APM National Chairman Yusuf Dantalle.

Under the arrangement, candidates aligned with the PDP faction seeking governorship, National Assembly and State House of Assembly positions in the 2027 elections are expected to contest under the APM platform rather than the PDP.

Makinde said the alliance would allow the coalition to field candidates for all elective positions across the country, from the presidency down to state legislative seats.

Political analysts say the development marks one of the most significant opposition coalition efforts ahead of the 2027 elections, especially as internal crises continue to affect several major opposition parties.

The declaration also places Makinde among the growing list of prominent politicians positioning early for the next presidential contest.

Makinde, currently serving his second term as governor of Oyo State, has in recent years emerged as one of the influential figures within opposition politics, particularly after his role in internal PDP power struggles and regional political negotiations.

Observers believe his decision to contest under an alliance arrangement rather than the traditional PDP structure reflects the deepening divisions within the opposition party.

The move comes amid broader political realignments involving several opposition figures and parties, including recent defections, coalition talks and disputes over party leadership structures.

Analysts say the success of the PDP-APM alliance will depend on its ability to attract wider national support and maintain unity among its members ahead of the elections.

Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission has scheduled the presidential and National Assembly elections for January 16, 2027, while governorship and state assembly elections are set for February 6, 2027.