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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Elections & Politics

2027: Makinde best man to dislodge Tinubu – APM

From The Punch · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • The Allied People’s Movement (APM) backs Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde as the strongest opposition candidate for the 2027 presidential election.
  • The party urges other opposition aspirants to unite behind Makinde to challenge President Bola Tinubu.
  • APM believes Makinde's performance and popularity give him an advantage, aligning with a potential Southern presidential successor.

The opposition Allied People’s Movement (APM) has endorsed Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde as the most viable candidate to challenge President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election. The party's National Publicity Secretary, Abubakar Yusuf, urged other opposition presidential hopefuls to set aside personal ambitions and rally behind Makinde, whom they believe has the strongest prospects of defeating the incumbent.

Without prejudice to the outcome of the consultations, Makinde comes clearer as the best opposition consensus presidential candidate.

— Abubakar YusufThe APM National Publicity Secretary stated their preference for Governor Makinde as the consensus opposition candidate.

This endorsement comes as efforts to field a single opposition candidate face hurdles, with prominent figures like Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi reportedly unwilling to cede their presidential aspirations. Despite these challenges, Yusuf stated that consultations among opposition parties are progressing well and reaching an advanced stage. The primary objective, he stressed, is to forge a formidable political platform capable of confronting the ruling All Progressives Congress.

Yusuf emphasized that Makinde emerges as the clearest consensus candidate, despite the sensitive nature of the process due to competing interests. He asserted that the desire for an alternative to the current administration should be paramount. "What Nigerians want is for opposition parties to come together, form a strong front and defeat President Tinubu in the 2027 elections," Yusuf declared.

It is a delicate issue that touches on interests. But most importantly, we, especially in the APM, are listening to Nigerians.

— Abubakar YusufYusuf acknowledged the complexities of forming a consensus candidate while stressing the importance of public opinion.

The APM also considers the argument that the presidency should remain in the South in 2027, allowing the region to complete a four-year term before power potentially shifts back to the North. Makinde's gubernatorial performance and his perceived popularity among young people, professionals, and other voter segments are seen as key advantages over other contenders. The party believes Nigerians are seeking a new beginning and a leader with a fresh vision.

What Nigerians want is for opposition parties to come together, form a strong front and defeat President Tinubu in the 2027 elections.

— Abubakar YusufYusuf articulated the primary goal of the opposition parties as uniting to unseat the incumbent president.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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