Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde declared the 2027 presidential election a contest between Nigerians and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), not just PDP versus APC, during Channels TV’s Politics Today on Tuesday.
The PDP stalwart criticized APC’s handling of Nigeria’s economy, with inflation at 33% and fuel prices up 40% since 2023, per NBS data, calling the poll a “judgment time” for President Bola Tinubu’s administration. “PDP remains the hope of the common man,” Makinde said, vowing to avoid 2023’s errors, when northern dominance in party roles cost votes.
Makinde, rejecting Atiku Abubakar’s March 2025 coalition with Peter Obi, argued for a unified PDP, noting the party’s 12 million combined votes in 2023 outperformed Tinubu’s 8.7 million, per INEC. He suggested a stronger 2023 ticket with Nyesom Wike as Atiku’s running mate, a view shared by 45% of PDP governors, per TheNiche. Some PDP supporters rallying behind Makinde’s vision, while others back Atiku, though these are inconclusive. With 2027’s campaigns looming, Makinde’s stance signals a battle for PDP’s soul, as Tinubu’s reforms, including a $30 billion FDI boost, divide voters, per Blueprint.