Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has said that the outcome of the 2027 presidential election will be determined by hungry and struggling Nigerians.
Makinde made the remark on Wednesday in Ibadan during the official inauguration of the newly elected South-West zonal executive members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Speaking at the event, the governor noted that the growing hardship in the country would play a major role in shaping the next general election, stressing that the masses – not political elites – will be the real deciders of Nigeria’s future.
Reacting to the recent wave of defections from the PDP, including some governors and prominent party figures, Makinde dismissed concerns, insisting the party remains grounded and aligned with the people.
“People have been asking us about the defections happening across the party – governors, key stakeholders, and others are leaving or threatening to leave,” he said.
“But I told them, we’re not worried. We won’t be concerned until hunger itself defects to the ruling APC. The day hunger joins APC, then we will know there’s a problem.”
He continued: “There’s hunger in the land, and the people facing that hunger will decide what 2027 will look like. So don’t be discouraged. If any governor likes, let them decamp. We are staying with the people of Nigeria.”
Makinde reaffirmed his belief in the PDP, describing it as the only party in Nigeria with strong institutions and a clear commitment to the welfare of ordinary citizens.
