Makinde urges APM leaders to work with opposition parties ahead of 2027

By Adejayan Gbenga

The presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Seyi Makinde, has urged the party’s newly elected leaders to collaborate with other opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Makinde, who is also the Oyo State governor, made the call on Thursday at the APM national convention held at the Dr. Rilwanu Sulaimanu Adamu Square, Government House, Bauchi.

He said a credible opposition was essential to sustaining democracy and urged the new leadership to build partnerships with other opposition groups to provide Nigerians with a credible alternative in the 2027 elections.

According to Makinde, the election should go beyond campaign promises, political slogans and government announcements, with political leaders assessed based on measurable improvements in the lives of Nigerians.

He said economic policies should be judged by their impact on the purchasing power of ordinary citizens, noting that people experience economic policies through what they can afford in the market.

Makinde also said employment policies should be measured by Nigerians’ ability to secure productive jobs, while security should be assessed by the safety citizens experience in their communities rather than the number of meetings held by government officials.

He urged politicians seeking to replace the current government to clearly explain what they would do differently if elected in 2027, saying the election should focus on what has changed for Nigerians rather than what the government has announced or implemented.

Makinde said Nigeria needed an economy capable of lifting millions of people out of poverty, creating productive opportunities for young Nigerians, improving education and strengthening security, while urging opposition parties to work together to present Nigerians with a credible alternative.