In a major political realignment that could reshape the opposition landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde on Thursday led his faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) in Ibadan.
The historic signing ceremony, which formed part of the “Unity Mega Rally Ibadan 2026” held at the ancient Mapo Hall, signals the formal alliance between Makinde’s PDP bloc (aligned with the Taminu Turaki-led national faction) and the APM. Under the agreement, candidates backed by the governor for governorship, senatorial, House of Representatives, and State Assembly seats will contest the 2027 polls on the APM platform rather than the PDP.
Governor Makinde, who was present at the event alongside APM National Chairman Yusuf Dantalle, officially declared his intention to contest the 2027 presidential election on the platform of the new alliance. Signatories to the MoU included Seyi Bamidele on behalf of the PDP faction and Oladele Oyadeji for the APM, with both Makinde and Dantalle appending their signatures to seal the pact.
A video of the ceremony, widely circulated on social media and aired by TVC News, captured the tense yet jubilant atmosphere inside the hall. Seated at a long green table draped with party banners, top officials—including men in traditional attire and formal wear—signed documents amid flashing cameras and a crowd of supporters. Handshakes and document exchanges followed the signing, with attendees milling around the dais as the deal was consummated. The footage shows the event unfolding live at what appears to be the PDP National Secretariat or an allied venue in Ibadan, complete with party logos and portraits lining the walls.
The move comes amid a prolonged crisis rocking the PDP, including disputes over its national leadership and the nullification of a recent national convention by the Supreme Court. Makinde’s loyalists, including several elected officials, appointees, and aspirants, had already begun defecting en masse to the APM in recent days. Key figures who have pitched their tents with the new platform include Shina Peller (Oyo North Senatorial candidate) and other stakeholders.
The APM has named Bimbo Adekanmbi as its consensus governorship candidate in Oyo State. Adekanmbi, who has the strong backing of Governor Makinde, has pledged to “consolidate on Makinde’s gains” if elected in 2027. Other unveiled aspirants at the rally include Stanley Olajide, Olufemi Ajadi, and Shina Peller for senatorial seats, along with candidates for federal and state legislative positions.
Political observers view the PDP-APM alliance as a strategic opposition front aimed at challenging the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027. With Makinde now openly eyeing the presidency, the coalition is expected to attract other disaffected PDP blocs and opposition figures nationwide. The governor’s supporters describe the move as a pragmatic step to “rescue Nigeria” from poor governance, while critics within the main PDP have dismissed it as a desperate “lost cause” that could further fragment the party.
As the dust settles on today’s rally, all eyes remain on how the national PDP leadership will respond and whether the alliance will hold through the rigorous nomination processes ahead. For now, Governor Makinde has sent a clear message: his faction is no longer waiting on the PDP but is forging a new path under the APM banner.
The full impact of this alliance on Oyo State politics and the national presidential race will unfold in the coming months, but one thing is certain—the political temperature in Oyo and beyond has just been turned up several notche
