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Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has officially declared his intention to contest the 2027 presidential election on the platform of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), marking a major shift in Nigeria’s opposition politics ahead of the next general election. Makinde made the announcement on Thursday during a joint mega rally organised by the Peoples Democratic Party and the APM at Mapo Hall in Ibadan, Oyo State. 
Speaking at the rally, Makinde said Nigeria’s current economic and political situation had worsened to the point where citizens were struggling daily to survive. He declared that the time had come to “reset Nigeria,” formally announcing his candidacy for president. The governor also argued that many public officials had abandoned their responsibilities to citizens, insisting that opposition forces must unite to challenge the ruling establishment in 2027. 
Makinde further unveiled a strategic alliance between the PDP and APM, describing it as the beginning of a broader coalition aimed at contesting positions across all levels of government. According to him, the agreement would allow candidates loyal to his political bloc to contest elections under the APM platform, including governorship, National Assembly, and State Assembly seats. Earlier in the day, leaders of the Taminu Turaki faction of the PDP in Oyo State signed a Memorandum of Understanding with APM officials to formalise the alliance. 
The declaration follows weeks of speculation over Makinde’s national political ambitions and comes amid widening cracks within major opposition parties ahead of 2027. Political observers say the move could reshape opposition alignments, especially as several politicians dissatisfied with internal crises in the PDP and ADC continue exploring alternative platforms and coalition arrangements. 
