Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State may officially announce his ambition to contest the 2027 presidential election during a major political rally scheduled for Thursday at Mapo Hall in Ibadan South East Local Government Area
The rally tagged Unity Mega Rally Ibadan 2026 is also expected to mark the unveiling of a political alliance between the Peoples Democratic Party and the Allied Peoples Movement in Oyo State
Sources within the party disclosed that the event is being positioned as the formal launch of Makinde’s anticipated presidential campaign ahead of the 2027 elections
Apart from declaring his presidential ambition the governor is also expected to present aspirants contesting various state and national positions under the platform of the APM
This comes amid recent political movements in the state which saw several political officeholders especially those nursing ambitions for the 2027 elections resign from the PDP and move to the APM
Among those expected to emerge on the APM platform are former Oyo State Commissioner for Finance Bimbo Adekanmbi as governorship candidate while Stanley Olajide Olufemi Ajadi and Shina Peller are expected to be unveiled as senatorial candidates
Candidates for the House of Representatives and the State House of Assembly are also expected to be introduced during the rally
The political gathering is expected to begin with the signing of an alliance agreement between leaders of the APM and the Taminu Turaki faction of the PDP outlining the terms of their partnership
A senior PDP source said
“We will sign forms of alliance with APM involving its national chairman and our own side led by Taminu Turaki”
“Governor Seyi Makinde will declare his presidential bid on the platform of the APM”
Ahead of the event preparations have intensified across Ibadan with political leaders and supporters from both parties expected to arrive in the city on Wednesday
Another source familiar with the arrangements said
“The May 14 rally is expected to attract political stakeholders youth groups community leaders traditional supporters and allies from across the country particularly individuals believed to align with Governor Makinde’s leadership style and political vision”
“Although the governor is yet to make an official public statement regarding his intention to contest the presidency in 2027 support groups and political associates have continued to intensify calls for him to join the race”
“Several grassroots mobilisers political associates and loyalists of the governor are reportedly making strategic moves as consultations over a broader political structure continue to gather momentum”
Party insiders said the planned alliance and rally form part of wider efforts to strengthen grassroots political structures and expand Makinde’s influence beyond Oyo State ahead of the 2027 elections
Earlier in January 2026 Makinde reaffirmed his loyalty to the PDP after meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu while also advocating what he described as a bipartisan approach to governance particularly on issues relating to security and poverty
The governor however maintained that bipartisan cooperation should not be interpreted as a move to defect to the All Progressives Congress