The controversy surrounding the alleged exclusion of Persons Living With Disabilities (PLWDs) and other special-interest groups from the 2027 Presidential Campaign Council of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) has been described as premature, with a former aide to Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, Hon. (Mrs.) Toyin Balogun, insisting that the council list has not yet been officially released.
Toyin Balogun, who is an immediate commissioner for Women’s Affairs and Social Inclusion in Oyo State, said the complaint credited to Ambassador Abayomi Oyedeji was “curious and premature,” stressing that the campaign council list currently circulating on social media belongs to the All Progressives Congress (APC), not the APM.
According to her, the only APM campaign council list so far officially constituted and released in the South is the Oyo State Governorship Campaign Council List, which was recently unveiled. She, however, assured members of the PLWD community that their demographic had already been captured in the structure being developed for Governor Makinde’s presidential campaign.
Balogun said Governor Makinde’s record on inclusion and empowerment of PLWDs in Oyo State provided sufficient evidence of his commitment to ensuring that no segment of society is left behind. She cited the employment of thousands of PLWDs into state ministries and agencies, the creation of a dedicated agency for Persons Living With Disabilities, headed by Director-General Barrister Ayodele Adekambi, as well as the role of the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Inclusion under Alhaja Fausat Sanni.
She further noted that the administration had approved political appointments for representatives of the PLWD demographic, describing the initiatives as evidence of what she called Governor Makinde’s “unparalleled” commitment to inclusivity.
“Truly, the PLWD community has never had it so good as it has under the leadership of His Excellency Governor Makinde,” Balogun stated, expressing confidence that the governor’s approach to inclusive governance would be replicated at the national level if he emerges President in 2027.
She also disclosed that the proposed Makinde/Daura Presidential Campaign would have a dedicated and experienced Directorate for Special Interest Groups (SIG), with responsibility for coordinating support groups, PLWDs and other special-interest constituencies.
Balogun maintained that the proposed structure demonstrated the campaign’s commitment to broad-based participation, stressing that every Nigerian would be important to the political project.
“The Makinde/Daura Presidential Campaign is one which will walk its talk and is truly committed to ensuring that no single demographic is left behind, because every single Nigerian is important, and the welfare of all, without exception, is important to His Excellency, GSM,” she said.
She therefore urged stakeholders within the PLWD community and other interest groups to exercise patience until the APM Presidential Campaign Council is officially unveiled, rather than drawing conclusions from a list belonging to another political party.
