2027: I’m Qualified to Lead Nigeria — Makinde

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has declared that he possesses the experience and credentials required to lead Nigeria, as speculation continues over his possible interest in the 2027 presidential race.

Makinde made the assertion on Tuesday in Ibadan, Oyo State, while responding to questions from a select group of journalists during a media parley.

He attributed his confidence to his years of professional experience as an engineer and his tenure as a two-term governor of Oyo State.

According to the governor, his record in public service places him in a strong position to aspire to the nation’s highest office.

“To serve this country at the highest level, I am qualified — I’m even overqualified,” Makinde said.

“By the end of May 2027, by God’s grace and God sparing my life, I will have completed the full tenure as a two-term governor of Oyo State.”

He compared his trajectory with that of Tinubu, noting that he previously served two terms as governor of Lagos State before becoming President.

Makinde also highlighted his private-sector background, saying he successfully ran a company at a young age and worked extensively with multinational oil firms.

“At 29, some of my colleagues were still finishing their youth service. I ran the company, and people can go out there and check — I did not go to NNPC or the likes. I was working for multinational oil companies, including Shell, ExxonMobil, and Chevron,” he said.

Despite the growing political speculation, the governor said it was premature to fully engage in discussions about the 2027 presidential election, noting that the polls are still more than a year away.

He stressed the importance of a strong and viable opposition in Nigeria’s democracy and expressed concern over the wave of defections by governors and other senior politicians to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), describing the trend as unhealthy for the country’s political development.

Makinde, who is a member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), reiterated his commitment to strengthening the party.

The PDP has been engulfed in a deepening crisis, with camps loyal to Makinde and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, locked in a fierce battle for control of the party.

The two political heavyweights were once close allies and played a significant role in the emergence of Tinubu in the 2023 general election, after resolving to work against the PDP’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

Alongside former governors Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu, and Samuel Ortom of Benue, Makinde and Wike formed the G-5 bloc, which insisted on the zoning of the party’s presidential ticket to the South.

However, Atiku, who hails from the North, secured the PDP ticket at the party’s national convention.

In recent months, the relationship between the Makinde and Wike camps has deteriorated over disagreement on national convention, with both sides laying claim to the legitimate leadership and control of the PDP.