Makinde Warns Adversaries: “I’ll Still Be Governor Till May 29, 2027”

By Sojworldnews Desk | Wednesday, November 11, 2026

Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has warned his political adversaries to be careful, reminding them that he remains in charge of the state until May 29, 2027. Speaking mostly in Yoruba, he addressed the coming elections and his plans after the polls. Although he expects to relocate to Abuja, he insisted that his grip on Oyo will not loosen overnight.

“Please be careful what you do to me, because after the election, I’ll still be the governor of this state till May 29th, 2027,” Makinde said, in a translation of his Yoruba remarks. He added that he can still run things in Oyo between February and May in ways that people will never forget.

To drive the point home, the governor told a story from his school days at Bishop Phillips Academy in Ibadan. He recalled a teacher who often beat pupils severely. One Monday morning, that teacher entered the class early and flogged everyone without naming any offence. Afterwards, he explained himself. He claimed that, at his Celestial church, he learned that one of the pupils had done something spiritually to kill him.

The teacher then made a threat of his own. He told the class that they would never forget him until June, when they would leave the school. According to Makinde, the pupils kept that promise. “We didn’t forget him up until now,” the governor said.

Makinde then drew the parallel to his own situation. In effect, he said that some people will never forget what he will do to them before he leaves office as governor of Oyo State.

Notably, the remarks fit a pattern. Daily Trust earlier quoted him saying he still has until May 29, 2027, and that “those in PDP will have me to contend with.” Similarly, The Guardian reported that he reminded stakeholders he remains constitutionally in charge until that date. In addition, Makinde has told governorship aspirants to stop “abusing” him, since he will not appear on the ballot.

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“Pls be very careful with what you do to me , because after the election i will still be in office for a while before leaving”

– governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo state

This talk Go far oh https://t.co/O8VWOn2hOj

— Ola omo Ola (@OlawaleOlanir12) November 11, 2026

The timing adds weight to the warning. Reports say Makinde has declared his intention to contest the 2027 presidential election on the Allied Peoples Movement platform. Consequently, he will not appear on the Oyo governorship ballot, yet he still wants influence over the outcome. His allies argue that a governor who leaves office should still protect the programmes he started. Rivals, on the other hand, say he should step back and let voters choose freely.

Meanwhile, the political temperature in Oyo keeps rising. Several candidates are positioning themselves to succeed him, and the governor has openly said he will have a say in who takes over. He has stressed, however, that Oyo voters will make the final decision.

His critics, however, read the latest comments differently. The All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused him of running a one-man show since 2019. Some opponents therefore see the school anecdote as a veiled warning rather than a harmless story. His supporters respond that he simply states the constitutional facts. After all, a sitting governor keeps full powers until the handover date.

What happens next matters for Oyo residents. First, the governor still controls state agencies, appointments and contracts until May 29, 2027. Second, the transition period between the election and the handover often brings sharp political contests. As a result, observers will watch closely how Makinde uses his final months in office.

Ultimately, the weeks ahead will test how far the governor’s words translate into action. Voters, party leaders and civil society groups will likely demand clarity on what he means. Furthermore, security agencies and election observers will monitor the transition closely to keep the peace. Peaceful politics should remain the priority for everyone involved.

For now, neither side has backed down. Sojworldnews will continue to follow the story and will update this report as new details emerge.