Oyo State Governor and Allied Peoples Movement (APM) presidential aspirant, Seyi Makinde, has met with the European Union (EU) Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot, as well as European envoys in Abuja.
The meeting comes as political activities intensify ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections, with presidential aspirants increasingly engaging domestic and international stakeholders. The details of the discussions were not immediately made public.
Makinde’s engagement with European diplomats is notable given the EU’s longstanding relationship with Nigeria and its involvement in areas including governance, development, trade, security and democratic processes. The bloc has maintained regular diplomatic engagement with Nigerian political and government officials as the country prepares for another electoral cycle.
Earlier in 2026, Mignot and representatives of EU member states met with Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed in Abuja to discuss possible areas of cooperation between the European Union and Bauchi State.
Makinde has also previously engaged the EU on development issues. In June, he hosted Mignot and other EU officials in Ibadan, where discussions focused on agricultural development, education, climate change and efforts to tackle gender-based violence.
The latest Abuja meeting is significant against the backdrop of growing political mobilisation ahead of 2027. Makinde emerged as the APM’s presidential aspirant after his departure from the Peoples Democratic Party, where he had served as governor of Oyo State.
His interactions with foreign diplomats also come as Nigeria and the EU continue to deepen their broader strategic partnership. In March 2026, both sides held their eighth ministerial dialogue in Abuja, reaffirming cooperation on shared interests and development priorities.
The European Union remains one of Nigeria’s key international partners, with cooperation spanning economic development, peace and security, migration, governance and humanitarian assistance. As the 2027 elections approach, engagements between Nigerian political actors and international stakeholders are expected to remain part of the wider political and diplomatic landscape.
