By Eteteonline
Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State paid President Bola Tinubu a visit at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja on January 22, 2026. Official information on their discussion has not yet been made public, and the meeting was held behind closed doors. Ahead of the general elections in 2027, the gathering takes place in the midst of continuing political maneuvers.
One of the few governors from the PDP who has not switched to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is Makinde. He was formerly a member of the G-5 group of PDP governors that favored southern presidency and opposed Atiku Abubakar’s 2023 ambition. Despite having voted for Tinubu in the 2023 election, Makinde has stated that he will not support Tinubu in the 2027 election and is adamant about the opposition remaining independent.
This visit is noteworthy because it indicates that the president and opposition leaders will continue to communicate as political plans and alliances begin to take shape in advance of the 2027 elections. People are keeping a careful eye on the summit to see if it may affect future political alignments.
After the meeting, Makinde addressed the press on the purpose of his visit to the president.
“Well, the President is the President of Nigeria, not the President of the APC, and we’re talking about governance here.
“So, I came to discuss with the President some governance issue, basically.”
The question as to whether he would soon join the APC, Makinde said: “No, I’m comfortable in the PDP and again, we may have issues in this country where you need a bipartisan approach where it won’t be an issue of maybe APC talking alone or PDP talking alone, where we will have to look at what is best foot forward in the interest of our nation.
“So, when you get to that junction, you need everybody on board,” Makinde said,
Seyi Makinde’s recent visit to President Bola Tinubu has certain ramifications, according to analysts, pundits, and political watchers, particularly in light of Nigeria’s political environment and the 2027 general elections.
Even though official campaign periods are not yet scheduled to begin, many experts view the meeting as part of a larger shift in Nigerian politics as the 2027 elections get near. Parties and leaders are having strategic talks far in advance, which some analysts refer to as informal early campaigning, and the political climate is already heating up.
According to some analysts, the meeting is not necessarily an indication of support for Tinubu’s reelection, but rather a deliberate engagement by Makinde with the federal leadership.
While acknowledging the importance of democratic competition, Makinde has publicly criticized aspects of Tinubu’s administration, claiming it has failed to maintain national cohesion and competence.
Analysts warn that meetings between Nigeria’s opposition leaders and the president do not always imply political alignment; they can simply be about coalition building, governance talks, or negotiating party and policy positions before elections.
According to political analysis, certain governors in Nigeria are cooperating with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) or defecting to it, putting pressure on the opposition, particularly the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Makinde’s involvement is seen by some as a part of a larger trend of shifting alliances and internal opposition division, as a number of PDP governors have already switched sides or implicitly supported Tinubu’s agenda.
Even if he has declared that he intends to stay out from Tinubu’s 2027 reelection plan, this backdrop makes his visit noteworthy.
According to experts, Makinde is strategically placing himself inside his own party and the national political landscape by holding this conference. Makinde may be making sure he and his group are included in important political discussions and negotiations by continuing to communicate with the administration.
Observers note that he has made it clear that he would not support Tinubu in 2027 and that he wants to preserve opposition space. Therefore, meeting with Tinubu may be about striking a balance between relevance and influence rather than giving up political independence.
Analysts predict that this visit may lead to more internal conflict and factional strife within the PDP. There has already been opposition to Makinde’s public remarks regarding the party’s future and his attacks on other party leaders. Several party leaders have openly refuted accusations made in his media interviews, indicating internal strife that such high-profile visits may exacerbate.
Analysts point to opposition unity—or lack thereof—as a major issue for this gathering, speculating that it might affect intra-party dynamics more than the results of the national election.
Depending on how various factions interpret and respond to the meeting, Makinde’s visit may have an impact on PDP cohesiveness and future strategy. Analysts typically see it as an indication of shifting alliances and internal pressures within Nigeria’s political landscape, particularly the opposition.
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