Makinde confirms ongoing talks on 2027 opposition alliance

Detailed summary

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, confirms ongoing talks for a 2027 opposition alliance, saying he is willing to work with Atiku or Peter Obi to challenge Read More:…

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.

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.

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.

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