The governor of Oyo, Seyi Makinde, has said the 2027 elections will be a contest between the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and Nigerians.
He made this remark on Saturday at the commissioning of the south-west zonal secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ibadan, the state capital.
The new secretariat was named in honour of the late Soji Adagunodo, PDP zonal vice chairman in the south-west.
Makinde asked PDP chieftains to unite against external influences impeding a strong, unified opposition prior to the 2027 elections.
The governor reiterated that his future political trajectory will be self-determined, saying that Nigerians will decide the country’s next leadership.
“People have been complaining; they have been talking; they have been making a lot of speculations,” the Oyo governor said.
“Let me say this again, and I will say it myself: nobody will set an agenda for me apart from myself — they have also been talking, the ruling party and other parties.
“Let me say this: if you are accusing the ruling party of interfering with other parties to prevent them from uniting and forming a strong opposition for 2027, my position is that there are certain things within our control.
“The next election will be APC versus Nigerians. It is not even about APC versus PDP. So, let us do our bit to unite our party and our base, and let the people of Nigeria speak.
“Nobody apart from myself can set an agenda for my political career.
“Whether Governor Adeleke (Osun State governor) and I will cooperate for the growth and benefit of our party in the south-west is beyond the ruling party.
“It is between me and Governor Adeleke. So, please, let us work together and unite our base; that is all we need to do.
“The people spoke in Oyo and Osun states. They will do it in Nigeria. So, don’t fret. Don’t think external people have control over what will happen in our party.
“Yes, they may try; they can only succeed when we allow it.”
The Oyo governor called on PDP members to unite nationwide, citing the forthcoming Ondo governorship election as a crucial indicator of Nigeria’s political landscape in 2027.