Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has alleged that an unnamed chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) warned him against contesting the 2027 presidential election against President Bola Tinubu, claiming that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) took action against his administration shortly afterward.
Makinde made the allegation in the July 2026 edition of his monthly newsletter, where he reflected on what he described as political pressure following President Tinubu’s endorsement as the APC’s sole presidential candidate for the 2027 election.
According to the governor, an APC chieftain warned him on June 1, 2025, not to challenge Tinubu for the presidency. He claimed that a day after the warning, the EFCC wrote to the Oyo State Government requesting documents relating to contracts awarded by the state and payments made to contractors dating back to 2021, without identifying any specific contractor, company, transaction, or alleged offence under investigation.
Makinde argued that the anti-graft agency’s request was unusually broad and appeared to lack the specific details that ordinarily accompany such investigations. He made the remarks while commenting on a recent Federal High Court ruling that restrained aspects of the EFCC’s planned investigation into Oyo State’s finances.
The governor did not disclose the identity of the APC chieftain he referred to, and as of the time of reporting, the EFCC had not publicly responded to his allegations.
Makinde’s claims have added a fresh political dimension to the debate over the independence of anti-corruption investigations as preparations gradually gather pace ahead of the 2027 general elections.
