NEWS
“It Has Expired” – Oyinlola Declares, Withdraws Support for President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 Re-Election, Backs Makinde
Former Osun State Governor, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, has declared that his endorsement of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term in office ahead of the 2027 presidential election has expired, signalling a major shift in his political position.
Oyinlola made the clarification during an interview on Channels Television, where he was asked whether he still stood by the endorsement he gave Tinubu in July 2025.
Responding directly to the question, the former governor declared, “It has expired.“
His statement comes months after he joined other Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stakeholders in Osun State to publicly endorse Tinubu for re-election on July 20, 2025. The endorsement had attracted political attention, particularly because Oyinlola remained a prominent member of the opposition PDP.
However, explaining the circumstances behind the decision, Oyinlola disclosed that the endorsement was not necessarily an expression of permanent political allegiance to the President but rather a strategic move informed by the peculiar political challenges confronting Osun State at the time.
According to him, the decision was largely driven by the unresolved crisis surrounding local government administration in the state, particularly the controversy over local government leadership and the alleged disappearance of funds meant for the councils.
He explained that the endorsement was intended to create an opportunity for the affected political stakeholders to engage the Federal Government and secure President Tinubu’s intervention in resolving the situation.
Oyinlola illustrated the political calculation behind the decision with a popular expression, saying, “Reason being that if you need to catch a monkey, you have to behave like one.
“We have a problem in Osun State. The local government funds are missing. The issue of who the rightful occupants of the local government offices are is not settled, and we believe that it’s within the purview of Mr President to resolve that. But that is not coming.
“So, if we are in that kind of situation, we need to find out how to wriggle out of the problem, so that our people, because local government is the closest arm of government to the people,“ he said.
The former governor’s explanation suggests that the endorsement was conceived as a political strategy to attract federal attention to Osun’s local government crisis and secure a resolution that would benefit residents at the grassroots.
He, however, expressed disappointment that the political arrangement failed to deliver the expected outcome, insisting that the decision did not achieve its intended purpose.
In a further clarification, Oyinlola said, “We did not achieve anything, and I exited it almost immediately,“ stressing that he had since moved away from the political position that informed the endorsement.
His latest remarks effectively distance him from the political support he extended to Tinubu in 2025 and add another dimension to the evolving political calculations ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Interestingly, Oyinlola has reportedly shifted his political support to Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, who is believed to be positioning himself for the 2027 presidential contest under the platform of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM).
Makinde’s reported presidential ambition has continued to generate political interest, particularly amid discussions about possible opposition alliances and alternative platforms ahead of the next general election.
Oyinlola’s declaration could therefore become significant in the unfolding political realignments, especially within the PDP and among influential political figures in the South-West.
With the 2027 presidential election drawing closer, his withdrawal of support for Tinubu and reported backing of Makinde further highlight the fluid nature of political alliances, where interests, expectations and strategic calculations continue to shape the direction of
Nigeria’s political landscape.