Northern Youths Rally Behind Makinde’s 2027 Presidential Bid, Vow Unstoppable Campaign

 In a surprising political development, a coalition of northern youth groups has launched a fervent mobilization campaign to support Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde’s potential presidential candidacy in 2027, declaring, “Nothing can stop us.” The movement, unveiled on May 17, 2025, in Kaduna, signals a bold push to back the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governor, whose developmental strides have resonated beyond Nigeria’s South-West.

The Northern Youth Vanguard for Makinde (NYVM), comprising 5,000 members from 19 northern states, spearheads the campaign, citing Makinde’s achievements in infrastructure, education, and security as evidence of his capacity to lead Nigeria. Makinde, 57, has governed Oyo since 2019, earning acclaim for projects like the 65-kilometer Moniya-Iseyin Road, which boosted agricultural trade, and free education policies benefiting 800,000 students. His administration’s ₦50 billion investment in rural electrification and the Amotekun security outfit, reducing crime by 30% in Oyo, have drawn northern admiration, particularly in states grappling with banditry and poverty.

At the Kaduna rally, attended by 2,000 youths, NYVM President Aminu Saleh praised Makinde’s inclusive governance, noting his appointment of northerners to key roles in Oyo, including the state’s scholarship board. Saleh highlighted Makinde’s response to the 2020 EndSARS protests, where he compensated victims with ₦500 million, as a model for empathetic leadership. The group also commended his economic policies, which grew Oyo’s internally generated revenue from ₦15 billion in 2019 to ₦43 billion in 2024, positioning him as a fiscal disciplinarian capable of tackling Nigeria’s $120 billion debt.

The campaign faces hurdles, as Makinde has not formally declared his 2027 candidacy, though PDP insiders suggest he is under pressure to run. The northern push challenges the region’s traditional alignment with candidates like Atiku Abubakar, who ran in 2023, and could strain PDP’s internal dynamics. Critics argue that Makinde’s regional focus limits his national appeal, while others question the feasibility of a southern presidency following Tinubu’s tenure, given Nigeria’s unwritten north-south power rotation. The NYVM dismissed such concerns, vowing to canvass 10 million votes across Kano, Kaduna, and Sokoto, leveraging youth unemployment, at 42% in the North, to rally support.

The group plans town halls in 50 northern cities and a 2026 national conference to draft a “Makinde Manifesto” addressing insecurity and job creation. Analysts view the movement as a shift in Nigeria’s youth-driven politics, with Makinde’s populist appeal potentially reshaping the 2027 race. However, his success depends on navigating PDP primaries and countering rivals like Peter Obi, whose 2023 campaign galvanized young voters. For now, the northern youths’ resolve signals a growing clamour for transformative leadership amid Nigeria’s economic and security challenges.