Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has boldly declared that the 2027 presidential election in Nigeria will not be a typical face-off between the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), but a referendum where Nigerians themselves will stand against the ruling party.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme on Tuesday, Makinde criticized the APC-led government for Nigeria’s current economic struggles and insecurity, labeling the next general election as a judgment day for President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
“The 2027 election won’t be PDP versus APC; it would be Nigerians versus APC. Mark my word on that,” Makinde asserted.
PDP’s Internal Missteps in 2023
Reflecting on the PDP’s 2023 loss, Makinde blamed the party’s internal zoning decisions for weakening its chances, stating that the exclusion of Southern stakeholders from key leadership roles created a disconnect with the broader electorate.
“If the three main influential positions to take us to the election were occupied by the North East, the North Central, and the North West, how do we sell that position all around the country?” he questioned.
He pointed out that former PDP National Chairman Iyorchia Ayu (North Central), presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar (North East), and campaign DG Aminu Tambuwal (North West) all hailed from the North, leaving the South without representation in the party’s top election structure.
Makinde said this lopsidedness was a self-inflicted wound that played into the APC’s hands during the 2023 polls.
Wike Could Have Changed PDP’s Fortune
In a notable revelation, Makinde emphasized that the PDP ticket would have been stronger had Atiku picked then-Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike as his running mate.
“There wouldn’t have been G5. The day after the convention, I went to my good friend, Governor Fintiri of Adamawa State and said, ‘Make this a unity ticket, get Governor Wike, let’s appeal to him.’ But the idea was rejected.”
He recalled a London meeting with Atiku where this suggestion was reiterated but ultimately dismissed.
“He came back and said we’ve moved on. We’ve seen the result now, and we don’t want to walk that path again,” Makinde added.
Governor Makinde called on the PDP to rebuild and learn from its past mistakes, affirming that the party remains the major hope for the common man in Nigeria.
“PDP should have still been in power up until now, but some people walked out of Eagle Square. We lost power at the federal level because of that. The same mistake happened in 2023.”
As political tensions build ahead of 2027, Makinde’s statement highlights a growing sentiment among opposition voices calling for unity, inclusivity, and renewed strategy to challenge the APC’s dominance and win back public trust, 9am News Reports.
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