2027: APM Presidential Candidate Warns Against Suppressing People’s Voices

The presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Engr Seyi Makinde, has warned against any attempt to suppress the voices of Nigerians ahead of the 2027 general elections, insisting that the electorate must be allowed to determine the country’s future through a free and fair electoral process.

Makinde, who is also the governor of Oyo State, said Nigerians should be free to either retain the current administration or vote for a new government without intimidation or interference.

He said; “If the people like what is going on with the present administration at the centre, they are free to continue with it. But if they do not, then their voices must be heard clearly without suppression. Whatever decision Nigerians make at the polls must be respected, and we will ensure that happens.”

The Oyo governor spoke yesterday in Bauchi during a consultation visit to Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, where he said discussions also covered preparations for the 2027 elections, including consultations on the choice of a running mate.

Makinde expressed confidence that Nigerians would ultimately decide the outcome of the 2027 elections, stressing that no individual or institution should undermine the will of the electorate.

He said the opposition remained optimistic despite the prevailing political atmosphere, recalling how the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won the 2019 governorship election in Oyo State against overwhelming odds.

According to him, the All Progressives Congress (APC) controlled the Federal Government, the state government and all local government councils in Oyo at the time, while the PDP had only one member in the State House of Assembly on the eve of the election.

“We worked very hard and won the election in Oyo State in 2019 as an opposition party. APC controlled the federal, state and local governments, and the PDP had only one member in the House of Assembly before the election. So, this is a familiar terrain for us,” he said.

Makinde maintained that democracy belongs to the people and urged Nigerians not to lose hope despite the current political climate.

“The political environment is very toxic, but when the day is about to break, that is usually the darkest point. I want to assure Nigerians that despite the challenges, a new dawn is coming, and tomorrow the sun will rise again for Nigeria,” he said.

On the selection of his running mate, Makinde said consultations were still ongoing and no final decision had been taken.

“Let us wait until the names are uploaded to the INEC portal. Consultations are ongoing, and everyone is part of the process,” he added.

Earlier, Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, said his meeting with Makinde also focused on the country’s security challenges, noting that they exchanged ideas on strategies to improve security in their respective states.

He said the visit reflected the peer-review culture both leaders had embraced over the years.

“This visit is a continuation of the tradition we established, where governance is strengthened through continuous collaboration and interaction among leaders at the sub-national and national levels. It enables us to review challenges and learn from one another.

“Governor Seyi Makinde, as a seasoned engineer and administrator, has recorded remarkable achievements in Oyo State. His performance speaks for itself. He has even undertaken projects that ordinarily fall within the responsibility of the Federal Government, including the reconstruction of the Ibadan Airport,” Mohammed said.

The Bauchi governor added that the meeting also reviewed the future of the APM, which he described as a growing opposition platform committed to providing credible alternatives and promoting issue-based politics focused on national development rather than personal attacks.