A member of the House of Representatives, Akin Alabi, has alleged that Oyo State Governor and Allied Peoples Movement presidential candidate, Seyi Makinde, is not genuinely seeking to become Nigeria’s president in 2027.
Alabi, who represents the Egbeda/Ona-Ara Federal Constituency of Oyo State, made the claim during a radio interview on Flair 103.3FM in Ibadan on Tuesday.
The lawmaker alleged that Makinde’s presidential campaign was primarily intended to strengthen the political chances of his preferred successor, Bimbo Adekanmbi, who is contesting the Oyo governorship election on the APM platform.
According to Alabi, Makinde’s continued presence on the ballot would give Adekanmbi greater political visibility and improve his chances against the APC candidate, Senator Sharafadeen Alli.
“Everybody knows that Seyi Makinde has no plan to become president; he just wants to be in the conversation because he knows his candidate, Bimbo Adekanmbi, can’t contest alone,” Alabi said.
He further argued that Adekanmbi would struggle to defeat Alli if Makinde were not simultaneously running for president.
The lawmaker’s comments came despite Makinde’s formal declaration of his presidential ambition on May 14, 2026, at a PDP/APM mega rally at Mapo Hall, Ibadan.
Makinde subsequently secured the APM presidential ticket and selected former Department of State Services Director-General, Lawal Daura, as his running mate. Daura replaced Ibrahim Bala, who had initially been announced as a placeholder running mate.
Makinde has also openly backed Adekanmbi, a former Oyo State Commissioner for Finance, as the APM candidate for governor and has campaigned for him ahead of the 2027 election.
Adekanmbi has pledged to build on Makinde’s administration if elected.
Alabi, however, maintained that Makinde’s presidential bid was primarily a political strategy aimed at improving Adekanmbi’s chances in the Oyo governorship race.
The claim remains Alabi’s political assessment and was not independently established in the report.
