- APM accused Tinubu and the APC of fearing Seyi Makinde’s growing popularity
- The party linked Makinde’s absence from the road project flag-off to the alleged concerns
- APM claimed Makinde’s road projects in Oyo State surpass Tinubu’s projects across the South-West
The Allied Peoples Movement (APM) has accused President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) of deliberately keeping Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde away from the flag-off of the Ibadan-Ijebu Ode road project because of his growing political influence ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the party made the allegation in a statement issued on Tuesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Abubakar Yusuf, following Makinde’s absence from Monday’s ceremony.
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According to the APM, the Federal Government and the APC were concerned that Makinde’s presence at the event could draw significant attention and overshadow the President.
The party claimed that Makinde’s record in Oyo State had strengthened his national profile, particularly in infrastructure development.
It alleged that while Tinubu had yet to complete up to 250 kilometres of federal roads across the South-West since assuming office in 2023, Makinde had delivered more than 360 kilometres of roads in Oyo State alone.
The APM also claimed that additional road projects initiated by the Oyo governor were awaiting commissioning.
Yusuf said the exclusion of Makinde from the event demonstrated the alleged unease within the APC over his growing popularity and influence among political leaders and governors across the country.
The party further argued that Makinde had demonstrated an ability to build relationships across political and regional lines, which it said could strengthen his prospects ahead of the 2027 election.
The APM maintained that the Federal Government could not avoid a political contest with Makinde indefinitely, insisting that both sides would eventually face voters at the 2027 polls.
It urged the APC and the Tinubu administration to prepare for what it described as a major electoral contest, claiming that many Nigerians were increasingly looking to Makinde as an alternative in the next presidential election.
The allegations by the APM could not, however, be independently verified, while the Federal Government and the APC had not publicly responded to the claims at the time of filing this report.
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