Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has declared that he is fit and even “overqualified” to lead Nigeria, as speculations about his interest in the presidency continue to gain momentum.
Makinde, a member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and currently serving his second and final term as Oyo governor, made the remarks on Tuesday during a media parley with selected journalists in Ibadan, the state capital.
Basing his confidence on his governance experience and professional background as an engineer, the governor said he possesses the required credentials to serve at the highest level.
“Let me make this very clear: to serve this country at the highest level, I am qualified I’m even overqualified,” Makinde told the gathering.
Drawing a comparison with President Bola Tinubu’s political trajectory, he added:
“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 private-sector experience, saying he successfully ran a company from a young age without relying on government patronage.
“Professionally, 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 said.
Despite the growing political chatter, the governor said it was still too early to speak definitively about the 2027 presidential race, noting that Nigeria needs a viable democracy anchored on strong opposition parties.
He criticised the wave of defections by governors and top politicians to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), warning that such moves weaken democratic competition and do not bode well for the country.
Makinde, who supported President Tinubu of the APC in the 2023 election, said he would not repeat that decision in 2027. He disclosed that while the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike his former ally has pledged support for Tinubu, he has chosen a different path.
“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.”
According to the governor, his immediate focus is on the survival and rebuilding of the PDP, which he said has been badly hit by mass defections involving governors, lawmakers, and other party leaders.
