Politics
Northern Stakeholders Endorse Makinde, Pledge Support for APM’s 2027 Presidential Bid.
The Vice-Presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Alhaji Lawal Daura, has described the party’s presidential candidate and Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde, as the most competent and credible among all presidential candidates in the 2027 general elections, citing his outstanding performance as governor of Oyo State.
Daura also reassured Nigerians, particularly those in the northern region, that a Makinde/Daura administration would be a four-year, all-inclusive transitional government of national unity, focused on resetting Nigeria’s economy, education, security architecture and socio-political space.
The APM Vice-Presidential candidate made this known at the weekend while receiving leaders of the Northern Patriotic Front (NPF), who visited the party’s Presidential Campaign Headquarters in Abuja to present an award to Engr. Makinde and declare their support for him and the APM ahead of the January election.
Daura particularly appreciated the northern region for its commitment to the campaign, stressing that Makinde stands above other presidential candidates in terms of performance, national vision, productivity and service delivery.
He urged Nigerians to reject ethnic sentiments and instead assess candidates based on their track records and public service records. He maintained that anyone seeking to lead the country must be prepared to account for their stewardship and contributions to national development.
Daura said: “I was happy when you said that you went to Oyo State and you have confirmed the quality of governance and unprecedented development by our Presidential candidate. So, I throw a challenge that any who is still doubting whether our candidate is the most competent to be elected as President to examine his antecedents and performance.
“Before venturing into politics and eventually becoming governor of Oyo State, he had established himself as a successful businessman and a man with considerable experience in finance.
“Beyond his personal integrity, we should also examine his record in public office. What has he achieved? Look at his performance. His transparency and accountability set him apart.
“We in Nigeria are confronted with enormous challenges, particularly poverty and poor governance. We cannot afford to continue supporting leadership without examining what individuals have done with the opportunities entrusted to them.”
He further stressed that anyone aspiring to lead Nigeria must be ready to account for their achievements, management of public resources and contributions to the development of the people.
According to him, leaders who demonstrate transparency and accountability in public office deserve serious consideration.
Daura also commended the Northern Patriotic Front for promoting people-centred democracy, urging political parties, politicians and other stakeholders to encourage public enlightenment to enable Nigerians to make informed choices during elections.
He described Makinde’s proposed administration as transitional, explaining that its four-year tenure would establish a foundation for sustainable governance and address the underlying challenges confronting the country.
Earlier, the President of the NPF, Alhaji Ali Abacha, pledged the support of political stakeholders in the North, stating that the region was comfortable with Makinde’s candidacy, his Reset Nigeria message and his commitment to a four-year transitional government.
Abacha said Makinde’s outstanding performance in Oyo State had distinguished him as the most competent among the presidential candidates, a development he said informed the decision of northern stakeholders to support his Reset Nigeria agenda.
He also praised Makinde for choosing Daura, whom he described as a security expert, as his running mate, noting that the decision reassured Nigerians of the ticket’s commitment to addressing insecurity in the country.
Abacha assured that the NPF would continue to work hard to ensure the success of the Makinde-Daura ticket in the 2027 presidential election.