By Ghazali Ibrahim
Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, is expected to formally declare his intention to contest the 2027 presidential election during a political rally scheduled for May 14 in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
The rally, tagged “Unity Mega Rally Ibadan 2026,” is billed to hold at the historic Mapo Hall and will also feature the unveiling of a political alliance involving the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, the Allied Peoples Movement, APM, and other coalition partners linked to the governor’s political camp.
Sources familiar with the development disclosed that preparations for the event have intensified amid ongoing political realignments within Oyo State and the South-West region.
According to insiders, grassroots mobilisers and loyalists of the governor have stepped up consultations and strategic meetings ahead of the rally as efforts continue to build a broader political structure ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Political observers say the planned alliance is aimed at strengthening grassroots support and consolidating Makinde’s growing influence within the national political landscape.
The development is also believed to be connected to lingering internal disputes within the PDP at the national level, which have reportedly pushed some party stakeholders and loyalists to consider alternative political arrangements.
The rally is expected to attract political stakeholders, youth groups, community leaders and supporters from different parts of the country, especially those aligned with Makinde’s leadership style and political ideology.
Although the governor has yet to officially confirm his presidential ambition publicly, several support groups and political associates have continued to urge him to join the 2027 race.
