IBADAN — Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has officially accepted his nomination as the presidential candidate of the Allied People’s Movement (APM) for the 2027 general elections. The affirmation follows a series of nationwide party congresses and a high-profile endorsement rally in Ibadan.

A Platform for "Resetting" Nigeria

In his acceptance speech, Governor Makinde framed his candidacy around the necessity of a "national reset," arguing that the country requires a departure from traditional leadership approaches. He emphasized that his campaign would be built on:

Security Architecture Reform: Makinde pledged to prioritize the decentralization of security management, ensuring that state governments have the necessary constitutional authority and control over security agencies to effectively combat local threats.

Economic Reform: He promised practical interventions, including the restructuring of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) into a more efficient, commercially driven institution and the implementation of transparent pricing structures for petroleum products.

Food Security: The candidate committed to using data-driven approaches to address gaps in agricultural production, storage, and logistics to tackle the current hunger crisis.

Endorsements and Alliance

The candidacy is supported by a coalition involving a faction of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the APM, under the banner of the "Reset Nigeria Movement."

The endorsement received significant backing from Northern political stakeholders, notably a delegation from Bauchi State led by Deputy Governor Mohammed Auwal Jatau, who represented Governor Bala Mohammed. The delegation described Makinde as the leader best equipped to navigate Nigeria's current economic and security challenges.

Political Context

Makinde’s emergence as the consensus candidate of the APM marks a significant realignment in the opposition’s strategy ahead of 2027. Despite the political milestone, his nomination has coincided with ongoing security concerns in Oyo State, with the Governor facing pressure from citizens and stakeholders regarding the handling of recent abductions in the state.