Makinde confirms ongoing talks on 2027 opposition alliance

Makinde during the interview aired Friday with ARISE News anchor Ojy Okpe

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has declared his willingness to work with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar or former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi in a possible opposition alliance to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress in the 2027 presidential election.

Makinde disclosed that discussions among opposition figures were ongoing, saying he was actively involved in efforts to determine the most viable political arrangement ahead of the election.

Speaking in an interview with ARISE News anchor, Ojy Okpe, the governor dismissed suggestions that he was merely open to an opposition alliance, revealing that consultations were already underway.

“We’re still discussing,” Makinde said.

Asked whether he was open to an alliance with other leading opposition figures, he replied, “Not only that I’m open, we’re actively discussing this.”

The governor, however, declined to endorse either Atiku or Obi as his preferred candidate, arguing that the opposition should rely on evidence, including candidates’ manifestos, previous performance and public sentiment, rather than emotions or personal preferences.

“To arrive at a decision, you need data,” he said.

He added, “We just won’t say, ‘Oh, okay,’ take emotional decision and say, ‘Oh, it’s you.’ We have manifestos now, we have certain things in that manifesto.

“We will sit down, we have maybe historical performance. We also have the sentiment of the people. All of those things will come together and arrive at a decision.”

Using his experience in the oil and gas industry to illustrate how political rivals could cooperate, Makinde said competing interests did not necessarily prevent parties from working together when circumstances required it.

He explained that companies operating in the same industry could compete, collaborate or enter commercial relationships depending on the demands of a particular project.

Applying the analogy to the 2027 presidential contest, he said opposition politicians could assume different political roles depending on the outcome of their consultations.

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“Depending on what we see between now and the election time, we may be rivals, we may be collaborators, we may be — one may be the client of the other,” he said.

When Okpe asked whether he was prepared to work with others in pursuit of his campaign to “reset Nigeria”, Makinde responded, “To reset Nigeria, yes.”

Pressed specifically on whether he would work with Atiku if available data established that the former vice president was the strongest candidate around whom the opposition should unite, the governor answered, “Yes.”

“I’m willing to work with any Nigerian,” he added.

Makinde also cited the 1999 presidential election, when Olu Falae secured significant support in the South-West but failed to convert his regional popularity into victory at the national level, as an example of the challenges facing opposition politicians.

“Our biggest challenge is, first, to agree on what is the best course of action, and then seek an alliance,” he said.

The governor further referenced South Africa’s experience with political cooperation, arguing that competing political forces could negotiate an arrangement when circumstances demanded it.

He stressed that negotiations among opposition figures should not be driven by individual ambitions or personal interests.

“That negotiation will not be anything personal,” Makinde said. “That negotiation will be the deal for Nigeria, by Nigeria.”

Makinde’s comments come amid growing consultations among opposition leaders seeking a common platform to challenge the APC in the 2027 presidential election.

The governor has consistently argued that personal presidential ambitions should not stand in the way of a broader opposition arrangement, maintaining that the priority should be identifying the political strategy most capable of defeating the ruling party.