Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has declared that he is qualified to lead Nigeria, as speculation about his interest in the country’s presidency continues to grow.
Gatekeepers News reports that Makinde made the remarks while addressing a select group of journalists during a media parley in Ibadan on Tuesday. He based his claim on his experience as governor and his professional background as an engineer.
“Let me make this very clear: to serve this country at the highest level, I am qualified — I’m even overqualified,” Makinde said.
“I ran Oyo State. Even the current president — what brought him to the table? He was governor of Lagos State for two terms. 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.”
Makinde also highlighted his professional achievements before entering politics.
“I ran a company from a very young age. 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 stated.
Although more than a year remains before the 2027 elections, Makinde said it is too early to formally discuss the presidential race. He stressed that Nigerians desire a viable democracy with strong opposition parties and criticized the defection of governors and top politicians to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), saying it is detrimental to the nation.
Makinde, a member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is in his second and final term as Oyo State governor. While he supported President Bola Tinubu of the APC in the 2023 elections, he indicated that he would not repeat that approach in 2027.
He also addressed the position of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, an ally who supported Tinubu in 2023:
“I was in a meeting with President Tinubu, Nyesom Wike, and others when Wike volunteered to hold the PDP for Tinubu against 2027, and I was in shock,” Makinde said.
“Wike can support the president in 2027, but I will not.”
Makinde emphasized that his immediate priority is the survival and strengthening of the PDP, which has been weakened by mass defections of governors, lawmakers, and other members.
