Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, the presidential candidate of the Allied People’s Movement (APM), on Monday held a strategic meeting with the party’s governorship candidates from the South-West geopolitical zone.
Present at the meeting were Bimbo Adekanmbi (Oyo), Prince Laja Adeoye (Lagos), TPL Rotimi Babajide (Ogun), and their Osun counterparts. The discussions focused on intensifying preparations and coordinating grassroots mobilisation ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Makinde emerged as the APM’s presidential flagbearer after clinching the party’s ticket at its presidential primary held in Ibadan. In his acceptance speech, he emphasised the need to restore hope, rebuild public confidence, and pursue practical reforms in key sectors including oil and gas, agriculture, and the broader economy. He had earlier declared his presidential ambition under the APM platform in May 2026, citing internal crises and unresolved legal challenges within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as reasons for the strategic shift of his political structure and candidates to the APM.
Since his emergence, Makinde has attracted endorsements and expressions of support from various groups and political stakeholders. The Lagos chapter of the APM endorsed him as a preferred consensus opposition candidate, citing his governance record in infrastructure, healthcare, education, and fiscal management in Oyo State. Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed also publicly endorsed his candidacy. Osun APM members affirmed him as their preferred presidential candidate, while the party has claimed growing cross-party goodwill and interest from other opposition elements seeking a unified alternative platform.
At the strategic meeting, emphasis was placed on consolidating APM’s presence and building electoral strength in key South-West states, particularly Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo with the goal of turning these areas into reliable strongholds for the party. Plans also extend to expanding influence in other parts of the country as part of a broader national mobilisation strategy ahead of 2027.
The meeting takes place against the backdrop of significant public discontent with the economic situation under President Bola Tinubu’s administration. Reforms including the removal of fuel subsidy and the floating of the naira triggered sharp rises in the cost of living, inflation peaks, and hardship for many households. Multiple surveys have reflected declining approval ratings for the administration and widespread sentiment that the country is on the wrong track, with economic hardship and insecurity ranking among top concerns. While the federal government points to signs of macroeconomic stabilisation, such as improved foreign reserves, stock market gains, and GDP growth figures, critics argue that the benefits have yet to ease pressure on ordinary citizens.
Supporters of Makinde position his track record as a two-term governor who has delivered measurable results in Oyo State as a reason he is emerging as a prominent face of the opposition. They argue that his emphasis on competence, practical solutions, and people-centred governance offers a contrast to the current challenges, positioning the APM as a vehicle for national reset.
The APM continues to build its campaign structures, with formal nationwide campaigns expected to intensify in the coming weeks in line with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) timetable.
