AKURE, Nigeria — Oyo State Governor and Allied Peoples Movement (APM) presidential candidate Seyi Makinde on Thursday jumped off the stage during a campaign town hall in Ondo State, daring other 2027 presidential contenders to match his physical energy and stamina while urging supporters to vote for any rival who could do the same.
Speaking at the South-West town hall meeting of the Makinde/Daura campaign organisation held at the Ondo State International Conference Centre (The Dome) in Akure, Makinde said he would not make age a central campaign issue. Instead, he emphasised the energy required for the demands of the presidency, including the ability to work late and tackle national challenges.
To underscore his point, the 58-year-old governor leapt from the stage and challenged other candidates: “When they bring their presidential candidate, let the candidate come here and also jump down. If they can do that, vote for them.” The demonstration drew cheers from supporters at the event.
Videos of the moment quickly circulated online, sparking widespread discussion. Many interpreted the act as a pointed dig at older frontrunners in the race, including President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Makinde also addressed questions about his decision to run despite Tinubu, a fellow South-West politician, seeking re-election. He cited the 1999 presidential contest, in which two South-West candidates — Olusegun Obasanjo and Olu Falae — competed after the region was ceded the presidency, noting that “heaven did not fall.”
As of Thursday evening, the African Democratic Congress had not issued an official public response to Makinde’s stage jump or the implied challenge directed at older candidates. The ADC, which has fielded Atiku Abubakar as its standard-bearer for the 2027 election, has previously clashed with Makinde’s camp on other political matters in Oyo State.
The episode forms part of intensifying early campaigning for the 2027 presidential election, in which INEC has listed multiple candidates including Tinubu, Atiku, Peter Obi, and Makinde himself. Makinde has pledged to serve only one term if elected, framing his bid as focused on institutional reform and national unity.
Supporters of the APM candidate hailed the demonstration as proof of vigour needed for high office, while critics on social media dismissed it as a gimmick, arguing that physical stunts do not equate to the capacity for governance or late-night decision-making.
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