Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde on Thursday formally declared his intention to run for president in 2027, using a joint Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Allied Peoples Movement (APM) Unity Rally at Mapo Hall, Ibadan, to launch his campaign and push for a broad opposition alliance.
Speaking before thousands of party faithful, youth groups, women leaders and grassroots mobilisers, Makinde said his decision was driven by the need to safeguard Nigeria’s democracy and create a level playing field for all political actors.
“I have officially declared my intention to run for the office of the president come 2027,” Makinde told the crowd at the rally, which was organised to formalise the alliance between the PDP and APM in Oyo State.
The governor urged opposition leaders across the country to set aside differences and unite against what he described as a deliberate effort by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to steer Nigeria toward a one-party state.
He said Nigeria’s democratic credentials were being undermined by a political environment where opposition parties could not operate freely without interference from the ruling party.
“Nigeria no longer operates democracy without a political landscape that guarantees a level playing ground for opposition parties without the interference of the ruling party,” Makinde said. “If we allow this to continue, we will lose the very essence of what democracy stands for.”
Makinde called on Nigerians to move beyond passive participation in politics, urging eligible voters to take an active role in shaping the country’s future. He expressed confidence that collective participation could produce a “historic reset” in the 2027 general elections.
“I equally call on Nigerians to rise above being political spectators and bystanders. With the collective participation of all Nigerians of eligible age for voting, Nigeria will record a historic reset come 2027,” he said.
The rally marked the formal public alliance between the PDP and APM in Oyo State, bringing together stakeholders from both parties ahead of the 2027 polls. Organisers said the event was intended to showcase unity, grassroots strength and a renewed political direction in the state.
The PDP-APM collaboration is one of the most visible opposition alignments in the South-West ahead of the next election cycle. Party leaders at the rally said the partnership would focus on strengthening people-centred representation and consolidating grassroots mobilisation.