The Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde may officially declare his presidential ambition to contest the 2027 presidential election during a political rally scheduled to hold on Thursday at Mapo Hall in Ibadan South-East Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The event, tagged “Unity Mega Rally Ibadan 2026,” is expected to mark the unveiling of a political alliance between the Peoples Democratic Party and the Allied Peoples Movement in the state.
Sources within the political camps indicated that the rally may also serve as the formal launch of Makinde’s anticipated 2027 presidential campaign on the platform of the APM.
The governor is equally expected to unveil aspirants seeking various elective positions under the APM ahead of the 2027 elections.
Among those reportedly expected to be presented are former Oyo State Commissioner for Finance, Bimbo Adekanmbi, as governorship candidate, alongside Stanley Olajide, Olufemi Ajadi, and Shina Peller as senatorial candidates.
House of Representatives and House of Assembly candidates are also expected to be unveiled during the rally.
The planned declaration is expected to follow the signing of an alliance agreement between leaders of the APM and a faction of the PDP reportedly led by Taminu Turaki.
A source within the PDP said the agreement would involve leaders from both parties and would strengthen the political structure backing Makinde’s expected presidential ambition.
Preparations for the rally have intensified in Ibadan, with party leaders, supporters, youth groups, and political associates from across the country expected to attend.
According to another source, grassroots mobilisation efforts and consultations have continued to gather momentum ahead of the event as supporters push for Makinde to formally join the 2027 presidential race.
The development comes months after Makinde reaffirmed his loyalty to the PDP following a January 2026 meeting with President Bola Tinubu.
At the time, the governor advocated bipartisan cooperation on national issues such as insecurity and poverty, while insisting that such cooperation did not amount to defecting to the All Progressives Congress.
