NEWS
Peter Obi Backs Makinde’s 2027 Presidential Bid, Says Oyo Governor Is Qualified to Lead Nigeria
Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has expressed support for Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde’s ambition to become Nigeria’s president in 2027, describing the governor as qualified to occupy the country’s highest political office.
Obi made the declaration on Monday, September 7, 2026, at the inauguration of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) presidential campaign office in Abuja, where he appeared alongside senior members of the party and supporters of Makinde’s presidential campaign.
His appearance at the event has added a fresh dimension to the unfolding political realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections, with politicians across different platforms increasingly signalling their willingness to work together despite pursuing separate electoral interests.
Makinde is seeking the presidency on the platform of the APM, while Obi is contesting for the same position under the NDC. Despite the fact that both men are presidential candidates of different political parties, Obi used the occasion to publicly acknowledge Makinde’s qualification and right to seek the presidency.
Speaking at the event, the former Anambra State governor stressed the need for Nigerian politicians to move beyond personal disagreements and partisan rivalry, arguing that the country’s worsening economic and social challenges required collective action.
He said political differences should not become an obstacle to working together for the benefit of Nigerians, particularly at a time when many citizens are struggling with poverty and economic hardship.
“We want a Nigeria of unity, inclusion; we have a candidate who is contesting for President today, my dear brother Makinde. Is he qualified to be President? Yes, he is qualified.
“What we are doing today, for us is not about desperation but we want Nigerians to make their choice. All of us should come together to build a new Nigeria. We can’t continue the way we are going, our people are hungry and poor.
“Whoever wins genuinely from a free, fair, and credible election, we will all work together to save this country from collapse,” Obi said.
Obi also called for a fundamental shift in the nature of political competition in Nigeria, saying politicians should be more concerned about issues that directly affect the wellbeing of ordinary citizens.
He maintained that political disagreements should not prevent leaders from cooperating where necessary, insisting that the ultimate objective of political participation should be the improvement of the country.
“That’s why I’m here to show solidarity and assure you that we are changing the system, we don’t want politics of quarrel, politics of disagreement.
“Let our quarrel be to feed our people, we want a Nigeria where the child of nobody can be somebody without knowing anybody,” he added.
Despite his endorsement of Makinde’s qualification, Obi did not indicate that he was stepping down from the presidential race or abandoning his own political ambition.
Both politicians remain presidential candidates of separate political platforms as preparations intensify for the 2027 presidential election.
Makinde formally joined the 2027 presidential race in May after declaring his intention to contest under the APM. He subsequently emerged as the party’s presidential candidate following its primary election in Ibadan.
The Oyo governor has framed his presidential campaign around the idea of “resetting Nigeria”, with his political message focusing on governance, economic reforms, security and improved public services.
The APM, meanwhile, has continued to present Makinde as an alternative to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), seeking to attract voters who want a change in the direction of the country’s leadership.
Makinde is expected to contest the presidential election alongside his running mate, former Director-General of the Department of State Services, Lawal Musa Daura.
Daura’s selection has brought national security prominently into the APM’s campaign narrative, with the party pointing to his extensive experience in the security sector as an asset in its proposed strategy for tackling insecurity.
At Monday’s inauguration, Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, a national leader of the APM, also mounted a strong defence of Makinde’s presidential ambition and urged Nigerians and rival political forces not to dismiss the party’s chances in 2027.
Mohammed argued that the party was building a serious political platform capable of challenging established political structures and described Makinde as one of the country’s strongest political talents.
“Whoever disregards us is at his own peril, we are here to reset Nigeria and we are bringing in one of the best human capitals that Nigeria has ever produced at the sub-national and national level, that is Makinde,” Mohammed said.
The Bauchi governor further highlighted Makinde’s performance in Oyo State, arguing that his experience in managing the affairs of the state had provided him with the administrative exposure required for national leadership.
He also praised the structure of the APM and its leadership, stressing the importance of having a capable political organisation behind an effective presidential candidate.
“The beauty of having a good party is to have a good leader; the chairman of the party is an erudite young person who is also leading older political parties in Nigeria as the chairman of IPAC,“ Mohammed said.
The APM leader subsequently described Makinde as a capable administrator with experience in managing public resources and executing infrastructure projects, further reinforcing the party’s argument that the Oyo governor possesses the experience required to operate at the national level.
Obi’s appearance at the APM campaign office, coming despite his own presidential candidacy, is therefore likely to attract considerable attention as the 2027 political landscape continues to take shape.
His comments also underscore the increasingly fluid nature of the political contest, where candidates and political leaders are beginning to draw distinctions between electoral competition and broad
er cooperation on matters concerning Nigeria’s future.