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Seyi Makinde to Declare 2027 Presidential Ambition Thursday at Mapo Hall — Governor Set to Announce Alliance With New Party
Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde is set to declare his presidential ambition at Mapo Hall, Ibadan, on Thursday, May 14.
Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has finalised plans to formally declare his bid for the 2027 presidency on Thursday, May 14, at the historic Mapo Hall in Ibadan, in a move that will see him also unveil a strategic alliance with a new political party. The declaration, which aides describe as a "watershed moment," positions Makinde as a major contender within the opposition's efforts to field a southern candidate against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, while simultaneously signalling a potential break from the fractious People's Democratic Party (PDP), where he has been locked in a bitter leadership struggle.
Makinde, who won re-election in 2023 in a landslide and has since become the face of the PDP's dissident wing, is expected to use the Mapo Hall rally to cast himself as a generational bridge — a 59‑year‑old southern governor with executive experience, a track record of infrastructure delivery, and the backing of key power brokers. The event will also formally announce his alignment with a yet‑to‑be‑named political party, which sources say could be either the Social Democratic Party (SDP) or the emerging Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), both of which have been courting disaffected PDP governors.
A Calculated Break from the PDP
Makinde's decision to declare on a platform other than the PDP is the culmination of months of internal warfare. The governor, who once co‑anchored the party's "G5" rebellion alongside Nyesom Wike, has since distanced himself from the FCT Minister and has been building a distinct coalition of PDP governors, National Assembly members, and grassroots organisers frustrated with the continuing leadership crisis. By choosing Mapo Hall — a site steeped in Ibadan's political history — Makinde is drawing a direct line between his ambition and the populist, anti‑establishment sentiments that have long defined Oyo politics. The rally is expected to draw supporters from across the South‑West, South‑South, and North‑Central zones, where his team has been quietly canvassing for months.
The entry of Makinde into the race adds yet another layer of complexity to an already crowded opposition field that now includes former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Anambra Governor Peter Obi, and possibly former President Goodluck Jonathan. But Makinde's camp believes his executive experience as a sitting governor, combined with a southern base and a clean break from the PDP's damaged brand, gives him a unique lane. "He is not carrying the baggage of the past," a senior aide told Unuevbo TV. "He is offering a fresh start, a new party, and a clear vision. That is what Nigerians are hungry for." Whether that hunger translates into votes remains to be seen, but for now, Mapo Hall awaits, and the race for 2027 has gained a new and potentially disruptive contender.
Stay tuned to Unuevbo TV for live coverage of Governor Makinde's declaration at Mapo Hall on Thursday, and for continuing analysis of the 2027 presidential race.
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