By Ayomide Otitoju
Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has projected a shift in Nigeria’s political landscape ahead of the 2027 presidential election, stating that the contest will not be between the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), but between Nigerians and the APC.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Tuesday, Makinde accused the APC-led federal government of worsening economic hardship and failing to curb insecurity, asserting that voters will hold the party accountable at the next polls.
“The 2027 election won’t be PDP versus APC; it would be Nigerians versus APC. Mark my word on that,” Makinde declared.
He described the current administration under President Bola Tinubu as a disappointment, arguing that Nigerians are disillusioned by its handling of national issues, particularly the economy and security.
Reflecting on the PDP’s 2023 presidential election loss, Makinde admitted that strategic missteps contributed to the party’s defeat. He criticized the concentration of key leadership roles in the North, which he said alienated other regions.
“In 2023, the PDP gave the presidential ticket, the national chairmanship, and the director-general of the campaign to individuals all from the North — North East, North Central, and North West. How could we expect national acceptance with that arrangement?” he queried.
At the time, Iyorchia Ayu (North Central) served as national chairman, Atiku Abubakar (North East) was the presidential candidate, and Aminu Tambuwal (North West) directed the campaign.
Makinde argued that the party could have built a more formidable ticket by choosing then-Rivers Governor Nyesom Wike as Atiku’s running mate. He revealed that he personally urged the campaign to adopt that strategy.
“I told Governor Fintiri of Adamawa: ‘Let’s make it a unity ticket. Let’s bring in Wike.’ But those around Atiku rejected the idea. We even met in London to discuss it. They said they had moved on,” he recounted.
He added that the formation of the G5 Governors — a dissident faction within the PDP — was a direct result of that exclusion and a major blow to the party’s cohesion.
“The PDP should still be in power today. But just like in 2015, internal divisions led to our downfall. We must learn from these errors and recommit to building a party that truly represents the hopes of ordinary Nigerians,” Makinde said.
