Makinde warns critics he remains Oyo governor until May 29, 2027, as his presidential ambition and succession politics intensify
Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has attracted fresh political attention after issuing a pointed warning to individuals he believes may mistreat him before the end of his administration, reminding them that he will remain in office until May 29, 2027, despite his plans to relocate to Abuja.
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Makinde made the remarks on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, while presenting the proposed ₦1.115 trillion 2027 budget, tagged Budget of Sustained Progress, to the Oyo State House of Assembly in Ibadan.
Describing the presentation as his final budget address as governor, Makinde said his administration would implement only part of the proposed spending plan before transferring responsibility to the incoming government.
However, it was his comments about the months immediately preceding his departure from office that attracted particular attention.
“Please be careful what you do to me because after the elections, I’ll still be the governor of this state till May 29, 2027.
Even though I will be moving to Abuja, I could still do something in this state between February and May that people will never forget for life,” the governor said.
Although Makinde did not specify the action he was referring to, the statement has generated questions about its political implications, particularly as competition for his successor intensifies.
The governor’s comments come at a sensitive moment in Oyo State politics, with political parties and aspirants positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 elections.
Makinde’s anticipated departure from the Oyo Government House is closely connected to his ambition to become Nigeria’s next president.
The governor is the presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) for the 2027 general election, with his campaign built around the Reset Nigeria agenda.
The manifesto identifies security, education, economic development and social transformation as its major priorities.
At the unveiling of the agenda in Abuja on November 4, Makinde said his ambition was driven by the need to improve living conditions and make government more responsive to ordinary Nigerians.
“Government should make life easier for people. Nigeria needs a leadership that works,” he said.
The Independent National Electoral Commission has scheduled the presidential and National Assembly elections for January 16, 2027, while the governorship and State House of Assembly elections are scheduled for February 6, 2027.
Makinde’s second and final term as Oyo governor is expected to end on May 29, 2027, leaving a period between the elections and the formal transfer of power.
The governor’s reference to February and May therefore places his warning within the politically sensitive transition period, when the outcome of the governorship election will determine who succeeds him.
On Tuesday, November 10, former Chief of Staff to Makinde, Segun Ogunwuyi, led 32 other chieftains of the APM into the All Progressives Congress (APC) at a political gathering in Ogbomoso.
The defectors included Rasak Gbadegesin, popularly known as Agbeti, Timothy Oyeniyi, Alabi Olateju, Banji Folaranmi, Isaiah Adegbite and Peter Oyetunji.
The development represents a significant political setback for the APM in Ogbomoso, particularly because Ogunwuyi previously occupied a prominent position in Makinde’s administration.
Speaking on behalf of the defectors, Ogunwuyi said they joined the APC to contribute to the party’s growth and expressed confidence in its electoral prospects in the area.
The defection has added another dimension to the political calculations surrounding Makinde’s final months in office, although it does not, by itself, establish a direct connection with his latest warning.
Beyond the political controversy, Makinde used Tuesday’s appearance before lawmakers to present a proposed ₦1,115,341,378,359.90 budget for the 2027 financial year.
The proposal, representing approximately ₦1.115 trillion, allocates ₦670.03 billion, or 60.07 per cent, to capital expenditure, while ₦445.31 billion is earmarked for recurrent spending.
Infrastructure receives the largest sectoral allocation of approximately ₦236.15 billion, followed by education with ₦190.53 billion and healthcare with about ₦93.01 billion.
Makinde explained that the budget was designed to consolidate the achievements of his administration and ensure continuity in public services after the change of government.
He also acknowledged that his government would only implement part of the full-year budget before leaving office, with the incoming administration expected to take responsibility for the remaining commitments.
In his presentation speech, the governor said: “We still have work to do, and we will continue to do it until our last day in office.”
He added that his administration wanted to leave behind functioning institutions, documented commitments and development programmes capable of surviving the transition.
Makinde’s warning comes against the backdrop of increasing political competition over the future direction of Oyo State.
Earlier in 2026, the governor had maintained that he would continue to exercise his constitutional responsibilities until the end of his tenure, while urging political stakeholders to respect the electoral choices of residents.
He has also argued that his administration’s development programmes should continue beyond his departure, promoting the Omituntun 3.0 agenda as a framework for continuity.
However, the final decision on who governs Oyo State after May 2027 rests with voters.
For now, Makinde has not explained what he meant by taking actions that people would never forget between February and May. His comments should therefore not be interpreted as confirmation of any specific planned action against political opponents.
Nevertheless, with his presidential campaign gathering momentum, defections affecting his political structure and the governorship succession contest approaching, the governor’s final months in office are likely to attract considerable political scrutiny.
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How Makinde balances his presidential ambition with his remaining responsibilities in Oyo State may prove particularly important as the 2027 elections draw closer.
