Oyo State Governor and presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Seyi Makinde, has defended his decision to challenge President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election, insisting that the South-West can produce more than one presidential candidate.
Makinde stated this on Thursday during the APM’s South-West town hall meeting in Akure, the Ondo State capital, while addressing concerns over his decision to contest against an incumbent president from his geopolitical zone.
According to the governor, some people had questioned his presidential ambition on the grounds that the South-West already had a sitting president in Tinubu, who is seeking re-election in 2027.
Responding to the criticism, Makinde cited the 1999 presidential election, when the South-West produced two major contenders, former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Olu Falae, arguing that the development did not undermine the region.
“And heaven did not fall. As a matter of fact, what the South-West did was to present two of their finest, two of their best for Nigeria to choose from. Is there anything wrong with that this time around?” he asked.
The governor also urged voters to reject what he described as the politics of deceit, saying his campaign would focus on his record in Oyo State rather than relying solely on criticism of political opponents.
Makinde further criticised the Federal Government over the reported presentation of the United Nations budget to the President in Nigeria by the country’s permanent representatives to the UN. He questioned the need to spend public funds on a trip from New York to Abuja for the exercise.
He also raised concerns about the implementation of government budgets, questioning whether the administration was implementing the 2023, 2024, 2025 or 2026 budget.
On the demands of presidential campaigning, Makinde said he would prioritise energy and physical stamina rather than make age a central issue in the contest.
“While I will not make age an issue of this campaign, I will make energy. Having energy. Being able to stay up late, have the rigours, have the energy to deal with the challenges that we are faced with as a country,” he said.
He challenged other presidential candidates to demonstrate their physical fitness during the campaign, suggesting that voters should consider their ability to withstand the demands of leadership.
Makinde formally declared his intention to contest the 2027 presidential election on the APM platform in May 2026. His ambition places him among the politicians seeking to challenge Tinubu in the forthcoming election.
The governor’s latest remarks underscore his determination to pursue the presidency despite concerns that multiple candidates from the South-West could divide votes in the region during the 2027 election.
