Makinde will defeat Tinubu in 2027 – APM

The Allied People's Movement (APM) has declared its confidence that Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde would defeat President Bola Tinubu if both contest the 2027 presidential election.

The party made the assertion in a statement issued on Tuesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Abubakar Yusuf, while responding to comments attributed to Presidential spokesman Daniel Bwala, who reportedly described Makinde as politically inconsequential.

According to the APM, the Presidency's remarks suggest growing unease over Makinde's increasing political relevance ahead of the next general election.

The party argued that the outcome of the 2027 presidential race—not public exchanges between political figures—would determine the strength of each contender.

"Rather than defend its record in office, the Presidency has chosen to attack personalities. The decision to deploy presidential aides to criticise Governor Makinde only shows a lack of confidence in its own achievements," the statement said.

The APM also referenced Bwala's earlier interview with Al Jazeera, claiming Nigerians were already familiar with what it described as the administration's style of political communication.

"Daniel Bwala would soon eat his own words against Governor Makinde," the party added.

Projecting confidence ahead of the next election cycle, the APM said it believes the 2027 presidential contest will ultimately come down to Makinde and President Tinubu, expressing optimism that the Oyo State governor would emerge victorious.

Yusuf argued that Makinde's performance in Oyo State gives him a strong platform for national leadership.

"President Tinubu should be jittery because Governor Makinde is coming into the contest with an intimidating record of performance, including transforming Oyo State into one of the country's leading economies, a feat Nigerians want replicated at the national level," he said.

Neither the Presidency nor Daniel Bwala had publicly responded to the APM's latest remarks at the time of this report.