2027: Makinde unveils APM campaign council, calls for inclusive party structure

Oyo State Governor and the Allied People’s Movement (APM) presidential candidate, Engr. Seyi Makinde, has inaugurated the party’s Presidential and Governorship Campaign Council in Oyo State, urging members to foster unity and build an inclusive political structure ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Speaking during the inauguration held on Friday at the Conference Room of the Governor’s Office, Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan, Makinde described the council as the highest leadership body of the party in the state.

He charged members to begin the immediate integration of APM members with new defectors and supporters joining the party from other political platforms, stressing that unity and inclusiveness would be crucial to the party’s success in the 2027 elections.

He recalled that the coalition which brought him to power in 2019 was made up of politicians from different parties, noting that the same model would be adopted under the APM.

“Even in 2018 and 2017, the PDP had most of us from different parties. We came from the SDP, some people came from Accord and others from different political backgrounds. We all came together inside the PDP and eventually used the platform to contest and win the election. So, what we are doing now is not new,” Makinde said.

The governor, who described the campaign council as the apex leadership of the party in Oyo State, urged members to reach out to all stakeholders and avoid running an exclusive campaign structure.

“One thing this apex leadership must do is to have an all-inclusive campaign council. Go round and tap our leaders. Reach out to APM members and ensure that they are fully integrated. Don’t make it another PDP affair.

“Yes, we hold the structure, but they own the platform. We must also give them some slack. When nobody wanted to associate with APM, they stayed with the party. This is a major task for you. We need to ensure that the structure and the platform are fully integrated,” he said.

Makinde explained that his political camp moved to the APM after concluding that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would not be available as a viable platform for the 2027 elections.

“We had to move into APM when it became apparent that the PDP was not going to be ready as a platform for us to contest the general election. Today, those claiming ownership of the PDP have all declared where they stand. They are supporting the APC,” he stated.

According to him, the APM offers Nigerians a credible political alternative capable of sustaining the country’s democratic ideals.

“For those of us in APM, our mission is to give Nigerians a real option, not an option that looks like an illusion where the more you look, the less you see.

“We want a political environment that reflects what our founding fathers stood for—federalism and genuine multi-party democracy, not a one-party system that merely serves as an appendage of the government,” the governor added.

Makinde urged members of the council to complete the integration process without delay, saying the commencement of formal campaigns was only days away.

“You have to do this within the shortest possible time. According to the INEC timetable, the campaign should begin around August 17 or 19. So, you have less than a week to go round the state, bring all our people together and get them fully prepared,” he said.

The governor announced the Executive Chairman of the Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Dr Nureni Adeniran, as Oyo State Coordinator of the APM 2027 Presidential Campaign and Director-General of the Oyo State Governorship Campaign Council.

Other principal officers are Hon Saheed Arowosaye as Deputy State Coordinator of the APM Presidential Campaign; Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Hon Demola Ojo, as Deputy Director-General for Oyo South Senatorial District; Dr Femi Ojo as Deputy Director-General for Oyo Central; Alhaji Siju Lawal as Deputy Director-General for Oyo North; Hon Ramata Agberemi-Dabo as Director of the Women’s Wing; and Hon Kazeem Bolarinwa as Director of the Youth Wing.

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