Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has picked former Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Lawal Musa Daura, as his running mate for the 2027 presidential election under the Allied Peoples Movement (APM).
Makinde unveiled Daura on Thursday at the APM National Convention held at the Dr Rilwanu Sulaimanu Adamu Square in Bauchi State, where he was formally elected as the party’s presidential candidate.
Daura replaces Ibrahim Adamu Bala, who had earlier been announced as Makinde’s running mate in what was reportedly considered a temporary arrangement pending the selection of a substantive candidate.
Accepting the APM presidential ticket, Makinde pledged to work with like-minded politicians and stakeholders to build a better Nigeria ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He also promised to tackle insecurity and address the worsening poverty confronting millions of Nigerians, attributing part of the current hardship to poorly implemented government policies.
Explaining his choice of Daura, Makinde said the former intelligence chief’s extensive experience would be valuable in addressing Nigeria’s security challenges.
Daura served as Director-General of the State Security Service from 2015 to 2018, bringing years of experience in intelligence and national security to the APM presidential ticket.
The former DSS chief recently joined the APM after leaving the African Democratic Congress (ADC), where he had been involved in political activities in Katsina State.
Makinde’s emergence as the APM presidential candidate formally places him in the 2027 presidential race alongside President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other prospective contenders.
Speaking at the convention, Makinde also called for greater cooperation among opposition parties, stressing that a credible opposition was essential to strengthening Nigeria’s democracy and giving Nigerians a viable alternative in 2027.
The Makinde-Daura ticket is expected to combine executive governance experience with national security expertise as the APM begins preparations for the 2027 presidential election.
