Oyo Commissioner Oyelade backs Makinde presidential ambition, cites governance record, IGR growth, COVID response and political coalition ahead 2027 election
The Oyo State Commissioner for Information, Prince Dotun Oyelade, has expressed strong support for Governor Seyi Makinde’s entry into the 2027 presidential race, describing the development as a defining moment in Nigeria’s evolving political landscape.
Governor Makinde formally declared his intention to contest for the presidency on Thursday in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, during a high-profile political gathering held at Mapo Hall.
The gathering also witnessed a major political development as opposition parties moved to formalise cooperation through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
The agreement is widely seen as an early attempt at strategic alignment ahead of the 2027 elections, amid growing repositioning within Nigeria’s political blocs.
As part of the arrangement, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was represented by Seyi Bamidele, who signed on its behalf, while Oladele Oyadeji signed for the Allied Peoples Movement (APM).
The agreement was further reinforced by Governor Makinde alongside the National Chairman of APM, Yusuf Dantalle, in what observers describe as a significant step toward strengthening opposition collaboration.
Shortly after the political alignment process, Governor Makinde officially announced his presidential ambition, a move that immediately triggered nationwide political reactions and renewed debate about the emerging structure of the 2027 race.
Reacting to the development, Prince Dotun Oyelade issued a statement strongly backing the governor’s decision and framing it as a leadership question for the nation.
“‘If not him, who and if not now, when’ the Commissioner asked.”
He argued that Governor Makinde has, over the past seven years, demonstrated a governance style that has earned both local and national recognition, with some of his policies reportedly influencing governance approaches beyond Oyo State.
Oyelade highlighted several achievements, including the state’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, swift interventions in workers’ welfare challenges, and a significant expansion of internally generated revenue.
According to him, Oyo State’s IGR rose from about ₦26.5 billion in 2019 to ₦103 billion in 2026 without imposing additional tax burdens on businesses and investors.
He also pointed to what he described as the governor’s fiscal discipline and aggressive infrastructure development strategy, noting that multiple projects have been executed simultaneously without destabilising the state’s financial structure.
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Prince Dotun Oyelade further stated that Governor Seyi Makinde is strategically positioned to challenge President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election, insisting that political pressure or elite realignments would not determine the outcome of the race.
He maintained that power ultimately belongs to the people and expressed confidence that growing national support would shape the final outcome of the election, as political momentum continues to build around Makinde’s presidential ambition.