The presidential candidate of the Allied People’s Movement (APM) and Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, has expressed concern over what he described as Nigeria’s increasingly hostile political environment, warning that the opposition would not allow the will of the electorate to be undermined during the 2027 general elections.
Makinde made the remarks on Friday in Bauchi after a closed-door meeting with Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed and members of the national leadership of the APM.
Addressing journalists after the meeting, the Oyo governor insisted that the credibility of the 2027 polls would depend on whether Nigerians are allowed to freely choose their leaders without interference or manipulation.
He declared that opposition parties would remain vigilant against any attempt to compromise the electoral process.
“The same thing is going to happen this time around. They must not suppress the will of the people. They must not suppress whatever decision they are going to take, and we will ensure that happens.
“We will not allow any electoral malpractice. The outcome must reflect the voice of Nigerians,” he said.
Makinde also described the country’s current political atmosphere as one of the most difficult periods for opposition parties, although he maintained that better days were ahead.
According to him, despite the prevailing challenges, Nigerians should remain hopeful that positive political change is on the horizon.
“Being in opposition, the political environment is very toxic. It is in the darkest moments, I can say that to you. But when the day is about to break, that is the darkest point.
“So, I can assure Nigerians that irrespective of the challenges we are faced with, the day is about to break for a new dawn in the country. Tomorrow, the sun will start rising again for Nigeria,” he stated.
Speaking on the prospects of the APM in the forthcoming presidential election, Makinde expressed confidence that the party’s fortunes would ultimately depend on the decision of Nigerian voters rather than the influence of political structures.
He cited his own emergence as governor of Oyo State in 2019 as evidence that electoral victory is determined by the people.
“In Oyo State in 2019, as an opposition party then in the PDP, APC was ruling at the federal level and also at the state level, but we won.
“It is the people. Democracy is about the people of Nigeria. We believe they will speak very loudly and clearly when the time comes,” he added.
Responding to questions on the recent security situation in Oyo State, Makinde argued that the state had maintained relative peace for several years before the recent incidents, urging observers to consider the broader security record of his administration.
He noted that the recent abduction of schoolchildren occurred shortly after he declared his intention to contest the presidency.
“I have been on this job for seven years and about two months. The insecurity you mentioned happened barely two months ago. For several years, we didn’t witness anything like this in Oyo State.
“I declared to run for the presidency of Nigeria at 4 p.m., and by 9 a.m. the following morning, the children were abducted,” he said.
The governor also reiterated his longstanding position that state governors remain constrained in tackling insecurity because they lack direct operational control over security agencies despite being designated as chief security officers of their states.
“My brother here and I are the Chief Security Officers of our states, but I cannot give instructions to the Commissioner of Police. He needs approval from the Inspector-General of Police. The Director of DSS also requires clearance from the Director-General, and the same applies to the military.
“Yes, I can declare a curfew, but how does that support the economic activities of the people? We are doing our best to work with the federal authorities,” he stated.
Earlier, Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed said his discussions with Makinde focused on governance, security and strengthening the APM as a credible opposition platform ahead of the next general election.
“We came together to examine challenges, exchange ideas and learn from one another. Governor Seyi Makinde, as a seasoned engineer who has accomplished so much in Oyo State, is someone from whom I have learned a great deal,” Mohammed said.
He praised Makinde’s developmental initiatives, noting that several of the projects executed by the Oyo governor ordinarily fall within the responsibility of the Federal Government.
“You can see that he is even executing projects that ordinarily fall under the responsibility of the Federal Government. He rebuilt the entire airport owned by the Federal Government.
“When you visit Oyo today, you will hardly recognise it as the same city once described by Soyinka and other great writers as an ancient city. It has now been transformed into a modern city with expansive roads, a revitalised airport and numerous other developments,” he said.
Mohammed disclosed that both leaders also reviewed security concerns affecting their respective states and discussed strategies for expanding the APM’s national presence ahead of the 2027 elections.
“We also had extensive discussions on security, which remains a major challenge for us as chief security officers of our respective states. We shared experiences and explored ways of addressing these challenges collectively.
“Most importantly, we discussed the future of our party, the APM, which is steadily growing into the next major opposition party in the country. The party is repositioning itself to play the role of a constructive opposition.
“Governor Makinde, as our presidential candidate, is working tirelessly to ensure that our campaigns are issue-based, free from malice and driven by maturity, sound ideas and capable individuals who can deliver effective leadership,” he added.
(Ripples)