2027: Makinde Wants to Be Atiku’s Running Mate, Claims Fayose

Former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose has alleged that Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde is positioning himself to become the vice-presidential candidate of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar under the African Democratic Congress (ADC) ticket.

Fayose made the claim in a statement issued on Wednesday, reacting to Tuesday's meeting between Atiku, Makinde, and former military president Ibrahim Babangida in Minna, Niger State.

What Fayose Alleges

According to the former governor, the closed-door meeting was carefully orchestrated to lend credibility and political weight to what he described as a pre-election pact between the two politicians.

Fayose alleged that Makinde offered to make an initial contribution of ₦10 billion to the ADC in two tranches, with a promise to release additional funds once campaigns commence. In exchange, he claims Makinde demanded the party's vice-presidential slot.

He further alleged that Makinde assured Atiku's camp he would deliver Southwest delegates during the ADC primary and leverage his wife's Rivers State roots to secure votes in the South-South region. For the general election, Fayose claimed Makinde promised to split President Bola Tinubu's Southwest vote base to give the opposition an advantage.

Strategic Calculations

Fayose suggested the Atiku-Makinde arrangement took into consideration that former Labour Party candidate Peter Obi would neither accept being Atiku's running mate nor be acceptable to the North as Atiku's successor.

He also claimed Atiku is "70% certain" of clinching the ADC presidential ticket, following the party's decision not to zone its ticket.

Fayose disclosed that a follow-up meeting has been scheduled in Dubai within the next two weeks to further discussions.

No Official Confirmation

Neither Atiku, Makinde, nor the ADC has issued any official response to Fayose's allegations. Both politicians have, in recent weeks, intensified consultations ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Makinde, a two-term governor of Oyo State, has increasingly distanced himself from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), fueling speculation about his next political move.