Loading ...BAUCHI, NIGERIA — The political landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections shifted significantly as Oyo State Governor and presidential candidate of the opposition Allied People’s Movement (APM), Engr. Seyi Makinde, slammed the current political environment under the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as the darkest and most toxic era in Nigeria’s history.
Speaking during a high-profile strategic consultation meeting in Bauchi State, Makinde declared that the APM is fully mobilized to safeguard the franchise of ordinary citizens, warning that any attempt by the ruling class to suppress or manipulate the will of the people in 2027 will be fiercely resisted.
A New Alignment In Bauchi
The strategic meeting, held at the Ramat House in Bauchi, brought together Governor Seyi Makinde, his host Governor Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, the National Chairman of the APM, Yusuf Mamman Dantalle, and several top opposition stakeholders.
The meeting highlights a major political realignment, as Makinde and Mohammed represent the only two state executives currently holding power under the rapidly expanding APM platform across the federation.
Addressing journalists after the closed-door session, Makinde likened the current economic and security hardships under the federal government to the deep darkness that precedes a new dawn, assuring citizens that the country is on the verge of a political rebirth.
“The political environment, yes, it is very toxic. It is in the darkest moments, I can say that to you,” Makinde stated. “But when the day is about to break, that is the darkest point. I can give assurance to Nigerians that irrespective of the challenges we are faced with, the day is about to break for a new dawn.”
The Hypocrisy Of Security Blame
Addressing the sudden security breach in Oyo State, where pupils and teachers from Orire were abducted on May 15, 2026, Governor Makinde bared his fangs at critics who blamed his administration for the incident. He revealed that the abduction occurred less than 24 hours after he publicly declared his 2027 presidential ambition.
| Regional Governance Matrix | The Oyo-Bauchi Opposition Strategic Blueprint |
| Electoral Stance | Mandating that the 2027 presidential outcome must explicitly reflect the voice of the electorate. |
| Security Reality | Highlighting that state governors lack direct operational command over the Police, DSS, or Military. |
| The Insecurity Plot | Orire school abduction executed on May 15, 2026, immediately following Makinde’s presidential declaration. |
| Infrastructure Milestone | Complete modernization of Oyo’s federal airport and major economic transport grids. |
Makinde exposed the structural defects of Nigeria’s centralized security architecture, noting that while governors are labeled “Chief Security Officers” on paper, they lack the legal authority to command federal law enforcement divisions.
He further lambasted the hypocrisy of political actors who blamed former President Goodluck Jonathan for the 2014 Chibok girls’ kidnapping but are now turning around to blame state governors for localized security breaches.
“When Chibok happened, it was the fault of President Jonathan. They went all over the world, asked Jonathan to bring back the children,” Makinde argued. “But when this happened, they say it is the irresponsibility of the state governor. I cannot give an instruction to the Commissioner of Police in my state; he needs approval from the Inspector General of Police.”
Rebuilding From The Grassroots
Endorsing Makinde’s presidential bid, Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed praised his colleague’s infrastructure record, noting that Makinde had successfully transformed Oyo into a modern hub, even utilizing state funds to completely rebuild a federal airport that had been abandoned for years by the central government.
Adding fuel to the opposition’s charge, the National Chairman of the APM, Yusuf Mamman Dantalle, stated that Nigerians have never desired a change in leadership as desperately as they do now. Dantalle referenced the recent rowdy shouting matches within the National Assembly as a symptom of a failing state, declaring that the APM is entering the 2027 race with a unique blueprint to completely reset and reboot Nigeria’s governance from the grassroots.
