Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has predicted that the 2027 presidential election will be a contest between the Nigerian people and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), rather than a traditional face-off between the APC and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Speaking on Politics Today, a programme aired on Channels Television on Tuesday, April 15, Governor Makinde declared: “The 2027 election won’t be PDP versus APC; it would be Nigerians versus APC. Mark my word on that.”
He criticised the APC-led administration under President Bola Tinubu for the country’s worsening economic conditions and deteriorating security, saying the next election would serve as a referendum on the government’s performance.
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“It will be judgment time,” Makinde said, expressing confidence that the PDP remains “the hope of the common man.”
Reflecting on the 2023 general elections, Makinde admitted the PDP had made strategic missteps, particularly in its handling of zoning arrangements.
He criticised the party’s decision to allocate its presidential ticket, national chairmanship, and campaign leadership roles exclusively to members from northern Nigeria.
“In the last election, the three main influential positions to take us to the election were occupied by the North East, the North Central, and the North West. How do we sell that position all around the country?” Makinde asked.
He pointed to the imbalance as a “self-inflicted blow” that significantly weakened the party’s national appeal during the polls.
Governor Makinde also suggested that the PDP’s presidential ticket would have been stronger had former Vice President Atiku Abubakar chosen then Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, as his running mate.
The fallout from that decision caused major internal divisions within the party in the lead-up to the 2023 vote.
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In contrast, Makinde indicated that the PDP has learned from its past mistakes and is already repositioning to mount a more inclusive and strategic campaign for 2027.
