The governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, explained why Asiwaju Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress won the state in the presidential election held on Saturday, February 25. Speaking on Splash FM’s *State Affairs* with Desmond Obilo, Makinde said he was happy to be part of a process that “redrew the electoral map of Nigeria.” He emphasized his commitment to equity and fairness, noting that Tinubu received 449,884 votes while his opponent, Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party, garnered 182,977 votes in Oyo.
Makinde stressed that his support was rooted in “fairness, justice and equity” and a vision of a united Nigeria that offers opportunities to every region. When asked about delivering his ward to Tinubu, he replied, “He (Tinubu) defeated me out there. How do you deliver your ward?” He described democracy as people expressing their preferences through the ballot, adding that many Oyo voters chose Tinubu because, after eight years of a northern presidency, they wanted the South‑West to have its turn.
The governor noted that a pre‑election survey showed widespread demand for fairness, equity and justice, a point he raised with his party. He expressed pride in contributing to the reshaping of Nigeria’s electoral landscape, arguing that arrogance is now behind them. “If you want to rule this country, you cannot rely solely on regional origin; you must build bridges and reach out to others,” he said.
Reports indicate that five PDP governors—including Makinde, Samuel Ortom of Benue, Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu, and their leader Nyesom Wike of Rivers—did not campaign for the party’s candidate, Atiku Abubakar, before the election. The governors are at odds with the party’s national leadership over what they view as unfair geopolitical representation within the party. In Rivers State, where Wike is governor, Tinubu also swept the votes, defeating Atiku and Labour Party candidate Peter Obi even in the governor’s local government area, though Ikpeazu and Ortom lost their senatorial bids.
When asked whether he would “pay the price” in his own re‑election bid, Makinde said he would prioritize doing what is right over personal political interest, leaving the decision to the people of the state. “If I have to choose between my political survival and doing what is right and just within the political space in Nigeria, I will choose to forgo my political career,” he affirmed.
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