The All Progressives Congress (APC) has criticized Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, accusing him of prioritizing his 2027 presidential ambitions over his duties as governor. Makinde, reportedly eyeing a presidential run on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is said to be positioning himself against President Bola Tinubu, a fellow South-westerner, in the upcoming polls.
The APC, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, noted that while democracy grants Makinde the freedom to pursue his political aspirations, it should not come at the expense of his responsibilities as Oyo’s governor. Morka accused Makinde of using recent events to blame the APC for issues within the PDP and other opposition parties, rather than addressing his own party’s challenges.
“If Governor Makinde truly knows how to counter APC’s influence, why hasn’t he applied that strategy to stabilize his own party on a national level?” Morka remarked, describing Makinde’s statements as misguided and ineffective. He added that the PDP should stop blaming the APC and take accountability for internal struggles.
Morka further claimed that Makinde’s aspirations are undermined by his “lacklustre performance” as governor, which, he argued, weakens his credibility. He contended that Makinde’s focus on a 2027 bid detracts from his commitment to Oyo residents, implying that Makinde is neglecting local issues in favor of a personal political agenda.
“Governor Makinde’s ambitions cannot rest on unjustified attacks against our party or President Tinubu’s administration, which has embarked on a transformative economic agenda,” Morka stated. He warned that Makinde and the PDP’s 2027 calculations may be overshadowed by the economic progress driven by Tinubu’s policies.
The APC concluded by encouraging Nigerians to support President Tinubu’s administration as its reforms begin to produce results, dismissing Makinde’s ambitions as politically irrelevant in the face of anticipated national progress.
