Seyi Makinde’s camp has urged President Bola Tinubu to withdraw from the 2027 presidential race if he cannot campaign across the country.
Seyi Makinde’s Camp accused Tinubu of avoiding Nigerians amid concerns over his administration’s economic and security records.
Makinde also criticised the Federal Government’s economic reforms, arguing that their impact on ordinary Nigerians should be considered when assessing leadership.
The Seyi Makinde campaign organisation has called on President Bola Tinubu to withdraw from the 2027 presidential race if he is unwilling to campaign across the country and defend his administration’s record before Nigerians.
The call followed Tinubu’s indication that he might not accompany the All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign team to every state ahead of the 2027 general election. The President said he wanted to concentrate on governance and other national responsibilities.
Reacting to this development, Richard Ihediwa, the Director of Strategic Communications for Makinde’s campaign organisation, accused Tinubu of avoiding the electorate over what it described as the failure of his administration to fulfil its campaign promises.
According to the organisation, a president seeking another term should be prepared to explain his performance to Nigerians and respond to their concerns.
Tinubu 2027 campaign: Seyi Makinde’s camp lists concerns
The campaign organisation argued that Tinubu’s decision not to attend every campaign rally raised questions about his willingness to face voters ahead of the election.
In its statement, the organisation said, “A President who believes he has performed well should be confident to defend his record.”
It also accused the administration of failing to deliver meaningful improvements in electricity supply, economic conditions and national security.
The organisation blamed the removal of petrol subsidies, foreign exchange reforms and other economic policies for worsening hardship among Nigerians.
It argued that rising living costs, reduced purchasing power and growing poverty had placed additional pressure on households, while security challenges continued to affect communities across the country.
The claims represent the position of Seyi Makinde’s camp and were not independently established by the statement.
The organisation further argued that Tinubu should not seek re-election without accounting to Nigerians for his administration’s performance.
It said the President should use the campaign period to explain his policies and address concerns about the economy and security.
Makinde speaks on economic reforms and leadership
Beyond the dispute over Tinubu’s campaign appearances in some states, Makinde criticised the Federal Government’s economic reforms, arguing that their impact on citizens should form part of any assessment of the administration.
In a newsletter released on Thursday, the governor compared his administration’s approach to governance in Oyo State with the Federal Government’s handling of the economy.
Makinde acknowledged that the removal of petrol subsidies and the adoption of a more flexible foreign exchange regime had economic arguments behind them. However, he maintained that policymakers should also consider the consequences for ordinary Nigerians.
“Reform is not only about fixing the numbers,” he said, stressing the importance of how citizens cope with economic changes.
Makinde said his administration prioritised the payment of workers’ salaries, pensions and inherited gratuity arrears while continuing infrastructure development in Oyo State.
He also cited the Alternative Project Funding Approach, through which contractors financed selected projects upfront, with the state government repaying the costs over an agreed period.
The governor argued that leadership required difficult decisions about public spending and determining which needs should receive attention first.
He further claimed that poverty had increased from approximately 56 per cent in 2023 to about 62 per cent in 2026, representing roughly 23 million additional Nigerians living in poverty.
The figures were presented in Makinde’s argument about the impact of economic reforms and were not independently verified for this report.
Makinde maintained that improvements in macroeconomic indicators should translate into better living conditions, more jobs and reduced hardship for citizens.
He argued that Nigerians had the right to assess a government’s performance after its first term and decide whether it deserved another mandate. Continue reading here
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