Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has emerged as the presidential candidate of the Allied People’s Movement (APM) for the 2027 general elections, with former Director-General of the State Security Service (SSS), Lawal Musa Daura, selected as his running mate.
Makinde’s emergence was announced on Thursday following the APM National Convention held at Rilwan Adamu Square in Bauchi State.
The development was contained in a statement issued by the Oyo State Commissioner for Information, Dotun Oyelade, in Ibadan.
The choice of Daura as Makinde’s running mate places a former intelligence chief on the APM presidential ticket, signalling a strong emphasis on national security as a major component of the party’s campaign ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Daura served as Director-General of the SSS between 2015 and 2018 and has extensive experience in Nigeria’s intelligence and security sector.
Speaking after accepting the APM presidential ticket, Makinde pledged to confront insecurity and address the worsening poverty confronting millions of Nigerians if elected president.
The governor said his decision to select Daura was deliberate, stressing that the former intelligence chief had the experience and expertise required to contribute to addressing the country’s security challenges.
Makinde also expressed his readiness to work with like-minded Nigerians and politicians who share his vision of building a better country and lifting millions of citizens out of poverty.
According to the governor, the hardship being experienced by Nigerians is partly a consequence of poorly implemented policies in recent years.
He said his administration would draw from the experience and lessons gained from governing Oyo State and apply them at the national level if given the opportunity to lead the country.
Makinde further pledged to make citizens’ welfare a priority while tackling insecurity, poverty and other challenges confronting Nigeria.
The governor also attached significance to the choice of Bauchi as the venue of the convention, noting that the state was the home of Nigeria’s first Prime Minister, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa.
He described the convention as an important moment in Nigeria’s political history and expressed optimism that the country could achieve a better future through purposeful and responsible leadership.
Makinde appealed to politicians and other stakeholders who share his vision to join forces ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
With Daura as his running mate, the APM ticket combines Makinde’s experience in subnational governance with the former SSS director-general’s background in intelligence and national security.
Makinde has served as governor of Oyo State since 2019, and his emergence as the APM presidential candidate now formally places him among the politicians seeking the presidency in the 2027 general elections.
The APM is expected to present the Makinde-Daura ticket around a campaign focused on tackling insecurity, reducing poverty, improving citizens’ welfare and addressing what the governor described as the consequences of poorly implemented government policies.
The development adds another political combination to the emerging 2027 presidential contest, with parties and political actors expected to intensify their mobilisation and alliances ahead of the election.
For Makinde, the APM ticket provides a platform to take his political experience beyond Oyo State, while the selection of Daura gives the ticket a candidate with a strong background in Nigeria’s intelligence and security establishment.
The governor has called on Nigerians and political stakeholders who believe in his vision to support the political movement as preparations intensify for the 2027 presidential election.