Oyo State Governor and presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Seyi Makinde, has urged the party’s newly elected leaders to build stronger relationships with other opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Makinde made the call on Thursday at the APM national convention held at the Dr Rilwanu Sulaimanu Adamu Square in Bauchi, where he said a credible opposition was essential to the survival of Nigeria’s democracy.
“The presence of a credible opposition is what sustains democracy.”
He urged the new APM leadership to work with other opposition groups to present Nigerians with what he described as a credible alternative in 2027.
Makinde wants performance, not promises, to decide 2027
The governor also said Nigerians should judge political leaders by the actual impact of government policies on their lives rather than by announcements and campaign promises.
“The 2027 election should not simply be about what government has done. It should be about what has changed for Nigerians.”
Using the economy as an example, Makinde said ordinary Nigerians experience economic policies through their purchasing power and what they can afford in the market.
“They experience it in what their money can buy: how much rice, how much beans, and how much they can take home.”
He similarly argued that employment policies should be measured by whether people can secure productive jobs, rather than the number of government statements announcing job creation programmes.
Makinde speaks on security and alternative policies
On security, the APM candidate said Nigerians should assess governments based on whether people feel safe in their communities.
“Security is not the number of security meetings in Government House. It is whether people come home and sleep with their two eyes closed.”
Makinde challenged opposition candidates to clearly explain what they would do differently if given the opportunity to lead the country.
He said Nigerians deserved an alternative that could create productive opportunities for young people, improve education, strengthen security and build an economy capable of lifting millions out of poverty.
“Those of us who offer ourselves as alternatives must answer the question: What exactly will we do differently, and what measurable difference should Nigeria expect to see?”
The governor’s comments come as political parties begin positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 presidential election, with opposition cooperation expected to remain a major issue in the coming political season.
Source: Statements by Seyi Makinde at the APM national convention in Bauchi.
