The Allied People’s Movement (APM) has declared its 2027 presidential candidate, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, as the clear frontrunner to defeat President Bola Tinubu in the upcoming general election, dismissing recent criticism from the Presidency as a sign of insecurity. In a statement released on Wednesday by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Abubakar Yusuf, the APM rejected remarks by Presidential Spokesman Daniel Bwala, who had described Makinde as “inconsequential.” The party argued that such comments reflect growing anxiety within the administration over Makinde’s rising political influence and popularity ahead of the 2027 polls.
Yusuf emphasized that the 2027 election will ultimately reveal who is truly inconsequential in the race, challenging the Presidency to focus on its own record rather than attacking opposition figures. “Rather than defend its record in office, the Presidency has chosen to attack personalities,” the statement read. “The decision to deploy presidential aides to criticise Governor Makinde only shows a lack of confidence in its own achievements.” The APM pointed to Bwala’s earlier interview with Al Jazeera as evidence of the administration’s communication style, which they described as defensive and reactive.
The party remains confident that the 2027 presidential election will be a direct contest between Makinde and Tinubu, with the Oyo State governor poised to emerge victorious. Yusuf highlighted Makinde’s track record of transforming Oyo State into one of Nigeria’s leading economies, a development the APM believes Nigerians want to see replicated at the national level. “President Tinubu should be jittery because Governor Makinde is coming into the contest with an intimidating record of performance,” Yusuf stated, underscoring the governor’s economic achievements and governance model as key selling points.
The APM’s statement also included a direct challenge to Bwala, asserting that he “would soon eat his own words” against Makinde. The party believes that Makinde’s proven ability to deliver results, coupled with his growing national profile, positions him as a credible and formidable alternative to the current administration. As the 2027 election draws nearer, the APM is positioning Makinde not just as a candidate, but as a symbol of change and economic transformation for Nigeria.
With political discourse intensifying and opposition parties beginning to coalesce around viable candidates, the APM’s confidence in Makinde’s chances signals a growing shift in the national political landscape. The coming years will test whether Makinde’s state-level success can translate into national appeal, but for now, the APM stands firmly behind its candidate as a leader capable of steering Nigeria toward a new era of prosperity.
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