politics

Makinde declares 2027 presidential ambition, vows focus on current duties

Published

2 years ago

April 16, 2025

Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde asserts his capability to lead Nigeria as president in 2027, while stressing his current focus on delivering for Oyo State

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has publicly stated his belief in his capacity to lead Nigeria as president in the 2027 general elections. Makinde made this declaration during an interview on Channels Television’s “Politics Today” programme on Tuesday, asserting that his experience and achievements extend beyond his current role as governor of Oyo State.

Also read: Obidient movement criticises Tinubu’s policies, vows to rescue Nigeria in 2027

“I don’t have any doubt that I have the capacity to occupy the highest office in this land, and I have what it takes,” Makinde affirmed during the interview.

“But is it what I want to do right now? Is it what Nigerians are asking for? Is it what my party will say we should do? I don’t know. We still have a long time to go.”

Makinde emphasised that his immediate priority remains addressing the responsibilities entrusted to him as governor.

“Where we are right now is, you know, we must fix our party. You must have a platform for you to even aspire to be anything,” he stated, highlighting the importance of party unity and structure.

The governor also made it clear that he would not be swayed by political gimmicks or external pressures. “Right now, I am focusing on what people have given to me, the task ahead of us, and so I’m not distracted, and I will not play stunt politics,” he said.

“I will not do things because, well, it feels right in some people’s ears. No, we will do things, we will stay focused to ensure that we bring dividends of democracy to our people.”

Makinde stressed that any future political aspirations would be pursued with meticulous preparation and a strong sense of accountability.

“One thing you should expect from Seyi Makinde is that he will never come out to say, look, I want to do this, do X, Y, Z without preparation and without being held accountable for whatever it is that I say I want to do,” he stated.

He also expressed contentment with his current political journey, regardless of its future trajectory. “If my political journey ends right here, I am also very happy. When I joined politics in 2007, I wanted to go to the Senate. I wanted to be a senator,” Makinde reflected.

“But now, not only have I achieved more than that by being the governor of my state, I’ve also cherished the opportunity that people gave to me to make my own little difference.”

Related Topics:2027 Presidency Channels TV featured Nigerian politics Oyo State politics Presidential Aspirant Seyi Makinde

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politics

2027: Political Parties Mobilise Thousands of Polling Agents

Published

1 hour ago

November 8, 2026

Mariam Balogun

Political parties in Nigeria have intensified the recruitment and training of polling agents ahead of the 2027 general elections, as preparations shift towards securing representation at polling units across the country.

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and opposition parties, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), African Democratic Congress (ADC), Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), are putting structures in place to monitor voting, counting and collation of results.

The development comes as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) introduces an electronic platform for political parties to nominate and submit the details of their polling agents, replacing the manual submission system used in previous elections.

Nigeria has 176,846 polling units, making nationwide representation a major logistical undertaking for parties seeking to monitor the electoral process from the grassroots.

The APC has claimed that it has recruited 4,421,150 polling agents across the country’s polling units.

Imo State Governor and Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, Hope Uzodimma, disclosed the figure while speaking at a two-day national retreat of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors in Abuja.

The ruling party said its mobilisation was part of efforts to strengthen its grassroots presence and ensure adequate representation during the elections.

The opposition parties are also developing their own strategies, with some focusing on recruiting committed members, screening nominees and training officials responsible for submitting agents’ details to INEC.

PDP trains officials, warns against double agents

The PDP has begun training its state executives and officials responsible for uploading the details of its polling agents to INEC’s online portal.

At a capacity-building session in Abuja on November 2, the party’s National Chairman, Abdulrahman Mohammed, urged participants to take the exercise seriously and extend the training to officials at the local government and ward levels.

He stressed that election monitoring began at polling units, where party agents played an important role in protecting candidates’ interests.

The party’s National Organising Secretary, Umar Bature, also cautioned state executives against engaging individuals who were not committed members of the party.

Bature warned against the recruitment of so-called double agents who could abandon their responsibilities or work for rival parties during elections.

He urged party officials to properly screen nominees and prioritise loyal members who had demonstrated commitment to the organisation.

The PDP subsequently directed its state secretaries to submit their agents’ details to the national leadership by December 2, ahead of the commission’s submission deadline.

Labour Party draws lessons from 2023 election

The Labour Party has also commenced the recruitment, screening and notification of polling agents as part of its preparations for the 2027 elections.

Its Interim National Chairman, Nenadi Usman, said the party was drawing lessons from the 2023 general elections, particularly the difficulties it encountered in obtaining comprehensive coverage of polling units.