Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has declared that the 2027 presidential election will be a contest between Nigerians and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), rather than a battle between the APC and his own party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Makinde made these remarks on Channels Television's "Politics Today," emphasizing that the election will serve as a judgment on the performance of President Bola Tinubu's administration, citing the country's struggling economy and escalating security challenges.
According to Makinde, the PDP remains the hope for the common Nigerian, and the party is determined not to repeat the mistakes that led to their defeat in the 2023 presidential election. He criticized the PDP's strategy in the last election, where the presidential ticket, national chairman position, and director-general of the presidential campaign were all held by individuals from the northern region. Makinde argued that this exclusion of southerners from key leadership roles dealt a "self-inflicted blow" to the party, contributing to their loss.
Drawing lessons from the past, Makinde highlighted that the PDP ticket would have been stronger had Atiku Abubakar, the party's presidential candidate, chosen then-Governor of Rivers State Nyesom Wike as his running mate.
