- Makinde names Daura as his running mate
- The APM unveils its 2027 presidential ticket
- Makinde promises measurable change for Nigerians
Oyo State Governor and presidential candidate of the Allied People’s Movement, Seyi Makinde, has selected former Director-General of the Department of State Services, Lawal Daura, as his running mate for the 2027 presidential election.
Eko Hot Blog reports that Makinde unveiled Daura on Thursday at the APM’s national elective convention held at Rilwanu Adamu Square, Government House, Bauchi.
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Daura replaces Ibrahim Bala, whose earlier selection as running mate was reportedly intended as a temporary arrangement.
The former DSS chief recently joined the APM after leaving the African Democratic Congress, where he had unsuccessfully sought the governorship ticket in Katsina State.
Explaining the decision, Makinde said Daura’s experience would be valuable in tackling Nigeria’s security challenges.
The convention also saw Yusuf Dantalle return as the national chairman of the party, while Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed emerged as the party’s national leader.
In his address, Makinde said the opposition’s responsibility ahead of the 2027 election went beyond defeating the ruling party. He said opposition parties must provide Nigerians with a credible alternative and clearly demonstrate how their policies would improve citizens’ lives.
He urged the newly elected party officials to cooperate with other opposition groups, arguing that strong opposition was essential for a healthy democracy.
According to Makinde, the 2027 election should focus on measurable results rather than campaign slogans, government announcements and promises.
He said Nigerians should assess economic policies based on their impact on household purchasing power, while employment policies should be judged by whether young people can secure meaningful jobs and become financially independent.
The governor similarly argued that agricultural policies should be evaluated by farmers’ productivity and access to markets, while healthcare policies should be measured by citizens’ ability to obtain quality medical services.
On security, Makinde said government performance should be judged by whether Nigerians can travel, work, farm and sleep without fear rather than by the number of security meetings held by officials.
He also called for a restructuring of Nigeria’s federal system, arguing that greater powers and resources should be transferred from Abuja to states and local communities.
Makinde said the country would struggle to reach its potential if decisions that could be made at the state or local level continued to depend heavily on the Federal Government.
He further identified declining trust between citizens and political leaders as a major threat to democracy. He called for a political culture where disagreements do not automatically turn opponents into enemies.
The APM candidate challenged politicians seeking office in 2027 to make their records, ideas and proposed policies available for public scrutiny.
He said the central question voters should ask every candidate was how their leadership would produce tangible improvements in the lives of Nigerians.
Speaking at the convention, Governor Bala Mohammed expressed confidence in the Makinde-Daura ticket and described Makinde as the right person to lead Nigeria.
Mohammed said Makinde’s engineering background could help him approach the country’s challenges with planning and practical solutions.
He also promised that the APM would pursue inclusive governance and accommodate Nigerians from different ethnic, religious and regional backgrounds.
Dantalle, following his re-election as national chairman, said Nigeria possessed sufficient resources to become a prosperous nation but had been held back by leadership problems.
He urged Nigerians across the country to support the APM and help spread its message of unity, development, hope and democratic renewal ahead of the 2027 general election.
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