The Senator Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Organisation has described Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde’s presidential ambition under the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) as politically unviable, following recent remarks by Bauchi State Governor and APM national leader, Bala Mohammed, in praise of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Governor Bala Mohammed had acknowledged that President Tinubu’s administration had performed well in areas including finance, healthcare and security. Reacting to the comments, the Alli campaign organisation, through its Director of Media and Publicity, Bisi Oladele, said the remarks raised questions about the strength and consistency of the political coalition backing Makinde’s presidential ambition.
The organisation argued that it was significant that a prominent political figure within Makinde’s camp could publicly commend the incumbent president. According to the campaign, the development exposes what it described as contradictions within the opposition camp, particularly given that Mohammed had previously endorsed Makinde and presented him as a leader capable of taking Nigeria forward.
The campaign further claimed that Makinde’s presidential project appeared more like a bargaining strategy ahead of the 2027 political realignment than a serious attempt to win the presidency. It argued that presidential politics would ultimately be determined by structures, numbers, credibility and alliances, rather than billboards, campaign offices and public declarations.
Alli’s campaign organisation also challenged Makinde to focus more on his record as governor of Oyo State, including the state’s economy, debt profile, infrastructure, education, healthcare and workers’ welfare. It maintained that while Makinde had the constitutional right to aspire to the presidency, ambition alone should not be mistaken for national acceptance or political viability.
The development comes as the 2027 political landscape continues to take shape, with Makinde’s APM presidential campaign already beginning to mobilise supporters across the country.
