Oyo Governor Makinde Declares 2027 Presidential Bid

Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde declared his intention to contest the 2027 presidential election on May 14, 2023, during a joint rally with the People's Democratic Party and the Allied Peoples Movement in Ibadan. This declaration came just hours after the abduction of pupils and a teacher in the Oriire Local Government Area.

The incident occurred on May 15, 2023, and the victims were held captive for 56 days before being rescued in a joint operation involving the military, the Department of State Services (DSS), and the police. Eight suspects were arrested during the operation, while others were neutralized.

Makinde expressed relief at the successful rescue and commended the security agencies for their efforts, noting that Oyo State had not experienced similar incidents during his seven years in office. Bola Tinubu also commended the security agencies for rescuing the victims without collateral damage.