You Can’t Manage PDP Alone, Don’t Compare Yourself With Tinubu — Ekiti PDP Guber Candidate Advises Makinde

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Ekiti State, Dr Oluwole Oluyede, has challenged Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde to demonstrate his achievements and political leadership record, saying he should not compare himself with President Bola Tinubu on the basis of age and physical energy.

Oluyede said Makinde should account for his stewardship of the PDP in the South-West and explain how he intended to address the party’s internal divisions and electoral challenges before seeking the presidency in 2027.

The PDP chieftain, who is the founder of the Oluyede Progressive Alliance for Renewed Hope Agenda, made the remarks in a statement issued in Ado Ekiti on Friday.

Makinde had said at the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) South-West town hall meeting in Akure on Thursday that he would focus on energy and stamina rather than age in the presidential campaign.

The Oyo governor said candidates should demonstrate their physical fitness, arguing that the demands of the presidency required the energy to work late and cope with the country’s challenges.

Reacting, Oluyede said Nigerians should assess presidential aspirants based on their achievements, experience, policy depth and capacity to deliver, rather than youthful appearance or physical strength.

“Leadership is not about how young or energetic you claim to be. It is about what you have achieved, the institutions you have built, the people you have empowered and the political legacy you are leaving behind,” he said.

He added that Makinde should present his record for Nigerians to assess against the responsibilities of the presidency.

Oluyede argued that physical stamina alone was insufficient for the nation’s highest office, which, according to him, required the ability to manage the economy, address security challenges, strengthen public institutions and provide direction for national development.

The Ekiti PDP candidate also criticised what he described as Makinde’s comparison of Tinubu’s age and physical strength, saying the President’s political career demonstrated the importance of strategic thinking, organisational capacity and resilience.

“At the age Governor Makinde is today, President Tinubu was already governing Lagos State and confronting serious political and developmental challenges. Tinubu built political structures, navigated difficult circumstances and sustained a political movement that eventually expanded beyond Lagos,” Oluyede said.

He maintained that Makinde and other presidential aspirants should be prepared to defend their records through verifiable policies and governance outcomes.

Turning to the PDP’s position in the South-West, Oluyede questioned Makinde’s leadership of the party in the region, urging him to explain how his actions had strengthened its structures and electoral prospects.

He said political leadership required the ability to unite stakeholders, manage internal disagreements and create a credible path to electoral success.

“Anyone who aspires to national leadership must be prepared to answer questions about their handling of political organisations and relationships, particularly when those organisations face internal divisions and electoral challenges,” he said.

Oluyede further called on politicians seeking higher office to respect public institutions and traditional authorities, adding that political disagreements should be handled with restraint and maturity.

He said the 2027 presidential debate should focus on achievements, ideas, accountability and the capacity to deliver sustainable development, rather than personal comparisons based on age or physical fitness.