Former Anambra State Governor and presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, on Monday made a notable appearance at the commissioning of Governor Seyi Makinde’s Allied Peoples’ Movement (APM) presidential campaign office in Abuja, setting off fresh speculation about possible opposition realignment ahead of the 2027 election.
Obi’s presence at the event was significant because Makinde and Obi are both prominent opposition figures with presidential ambitions.
His appearance, coming amid renewed calls for opposition parties to work together, has consequently added a new dimension to ongoing discussions over a possible united front against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Makinde, who is the APM presidential candidate, used the occasion to formally advance his “Reset Nigeria” campaign, declaring that the initiative was aimed at building a country where government is transparent, leadership is accountable and national resources deliver tangible benefits to citizens.
Speaking at the event, Makinde said the commissioning was not merely about opening a campaign office but about creating a platform for Nigerians to participate in discussions about the country’s future.
He also renewed his call for opposition forces to work together ahead of the 2027 presidential election, arguing that Nigeria’s political future should not be left to politicians alone.
“I am asking the opposition to work together in the forthcoming 2027 election,” Makinde said in remarks released after the event.
Obi’s intervention, however, provided one of the day’s major talking points.
Addressing the gathering, Obi described Makinde as qualified to become President of Nigeria, while also calling for opposition unity in the interest of the country.
His remarks have intensified speculation about the possibility of deeper engagement between opposition political camps as the 2027 contest draws closer.
While Obi’s appearance and comments do not automatically amount to an endorsement of Makinde’s candidacy, they are likely to attract considerable political attention given the competition among opposition presidential hopefuls and the continuing search for a possible consensus arrangement.
The development is particularly noteworthy against the backdrop of earlier consultations between Obi and Makinde over efforts to build a broader opposition coalition ahead of 2027.
Beyond the political calculations, Makinde devoted part of his speech to his proposed approach to petrol pricing, rejecting suggestions that his administration would simply restore the old fuel subsidy regime if elected.
He argued instead that Nigerian crude supplied to domestic refineries should provide a measurable benefit to Nigerians through a more transparent pricing framework.
According to him, Nigerians should be able to understand how petrol prices are determined, from crude production and domestic allocation to refining, transportation, distribution, taxes and retail margins.
Makinde said his administration would pursue a system in which government “shows its workings” and citizens can understand how public resources are managed and who benefits from them.
He also pushed back against those who have dismissed his presidential campaign as incapable of making an impact, recalling that similar doubts surrounded his first attempt to become governor of Oyo State.
According to Makinde, his eventual victory demonstrated that political calculations can be overturned when voters make their choices.
He therefore urged Nigerians who believe in a better country to participate actively in the “Reset Nigeria” campaign, saying the movement should extend beyond politicians to traders, farmers, workers, entrepreneurs and young people.
The Abuja commissioning has now placed Makinde’s presidential campaign more firmly in the national spotlight, while Obi’s appearance and call for opposition cooperation have added another layer to the increasingly fluid political calculations ahead of 2027.
For now, whether Monday’s appearance represents the beginning of a formal political arrangement between the two camps remains unclear.
What is certain, however, is that Obi’s presence has given fresh momentum to conversations about how Nigeria’s opposition could approach the 2027 presidential contest.
Makinde concluded by declaring that Nigerians must remain at the centre of the political process.
“This is our country. These are our resources. We count. And together, we will Reset Nigeria,” he said.
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