By Beatrice Gondyi, Bauchi
Oyo State Governor and presidential candidate of the Allied People’s Movement (APM), Seyi Makinde, has called for a strong and credible coalition of opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections, saying an effective opposition is vital to sustaining Nigeria’s democracy.
Makinde made the call on Thursday at the APM national convention held at the Dr Rilwanu Sulaimanu Adamu Square, Government House, Bauchi, where Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed, emerged as the National Leader of the party.
Makinde urged the newly elected leadership of the APM to work with other opposition parties to provide Nigerians with a credible alternative in the 2027 elections.
“As I said, the presence of a credible opposition is what sustains democracy.
So, our new leaders must be ready to work with other opposition parties to ensure that we give Nigeria an incredible alternative in the 2027 general election,” he said.
He said the 2027 election should focus on ideas, policies and measurable improvements in the lives of Nigerians rather than political slogans, campaign promises and government announcements.
“For too long, we have measured governors by announcements. We are presented with policy after policy, rather than evidence of where those policies have made people’s lives better,” Makinde said.
According to him, Nigerians experience government policies through their daily realities, particularly the rising cost of food, unemployment and insecurity.
“When our mothers go to the market, they experience economic policy as a statistic. They experience it in what their money can buy: how much rice, how much beans, and how much they can take home,” he said.
On employment, Makinde said government claims should be measured by whether citizens could secure productive jobs.
“We experience job creation policy through a press statement. The experience is whether you can find productive work,” he said.
He similarly said the success of security policies should be measured by the safety of citizens rather than the number of meetings held by government officials.
“Security is not the number of security meetings in Government House. It is whether people come home and sleep with their two eyes closed,” Makinde said.
The APM presidential candidate challenged political aspirants, including those offering themselves as alternatives, to explain what they would do differently if elected.
“Those of us who offer ourselves as alternatives must answer the question: What exactly will we do differently, and what measurable difference should Nigeria expect to see?” he asked.
Makinde also advocated a stronger federal structure that would bring more decisions and resources closer to the people, alongside greater accountability.
“We need a federation in which more decisions and resources are brought closer to the people, accompanied by greater accountability for results,” he said.
He called for a political culture in which disagreements would not turn opponents into enemies, stressing that the opposition should be about offering Nigerians a better alternative rather than merely seeking to remove those in power.
“We want a politics where disagreement does not make us enemies; a politics where opposition is not merely about removing those in power, but about presenting a credible and demonstrating a better alternative,” he said.
Makinde maintained that the opposition’s responsibility went beyond winning elections.
“The task before all of us is bigger than winning an election. It is to give Nigerians a real choice about the future of their country,” he said.
Speaking after his emergence as APM National Leader, Governor Bala Mohammed thanked members of the party for the confidence reposed in him and pledged to work with the party’s leadership to strengthen the platform and contribute to addressing the challenges confronting Nigeria.
“The recognition you have given us is going to give us a lot of challenges. It is for us to do more for you. By the grace of God, we will not disappoint you,” Mohammed said.
The governor expressed confidence in Makinde’s capacity to lead the country, describing the presidential candidate as an engineer whose professional background would be useful in planning and driving national development.
“We are putting square pegs in square holes. Our presidential candidate is an engineer by profession. He knows how to manufacture, develop and draw a plan, and we as administrators are behind him,” he said.
Mohammed identified insecurity, hunger, economic hardship, lack of national unity and inadequate development as some of the major challenges confronting the country, pledging that the APM would pursue an inclusive political agenda capable of bringing Nigerians together.
He called on party members and Nigerians to support the APM as it prepares for the 2027 general elections, assuring them that the party would focus on security, economic development, unity and improved living conditions.
Also speaking, the re-elected National Chairman of the APM, Yusuf Dantalle, said Nigeria possessed the human and natural resources required to achieve greatness but needed purposeful leadership to realise its potential.
“We have everything we need. Nigerians are not supposed to be slaves in their own country. God has given this country the greatness that we require,” Dantalle said.
He urged Nigerians across the six geopolitical zones and ethnic, religious and cultural divides to support the APM.
“We call on all Nigerians across the six geopolitical zones, across ethnic, religious and cultural divides, to identify with the Allied People’s Movement because our party is committed to building a stronger, more prosperous and more united Nigeria,” he said.
Dantalle also charged party members to take the APM’s message of hope, unity, development and democratic renewal to communities across the country.
“Let us take our message of hope, unity, development and democratic renewal to everyone, every local government, state and community,” he said.
The convention comes amid increased consultations and political realignments among opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections, with growing calls for a broad coalition capable of providing Nigerians with a credible alternative.
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