By Omobolaji Adekunle
The Allied Peoples Movement (APM) on Monday unveiled its governorship and deputy governorship candidates for the 2027 election in Ogun State, as party leaders and coalition partners declared their readiness to challenge the ruling party and offer what they described as a credible alternative.
The event, held at New Gate on Quarry Road, Abeokuta, brought together leaders of the APM, the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), and representatives of several opposition parties.
Addressing party supporters and journalists, Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, represented by Babatunde Tijani, said the party was determined to reposition itself as a platform capable of tackling the country’s economic and security challenges.
Tijani noted that the unveiling of the candidates marked the beginning of an extensive grassroots mobilization campaign across the 20 local government areas and 236 wards of Ogun State.
He criticized key economic policies introduced by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration particularly the removal of the fuel subsidy and the floating of the naira arguing that the measures have worsened living conditions for millions of Nigerians struggling with inflation and declining purchasing power.
Tijani highlighted the achievements of the Makinde administration in Oyo State, particularly in infrastructure renewal and road networks, as evidence of effective governance, expressing confidence that the coalition would emerge as a formidable force ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Also speaking, the Ogun State Chairman of the APM and State IPAC Chairman, Sanya Abayomi, urged citizens to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and actively participate in the electoral process to drive political change.
Abayomi explained that the party’s symbol, the cassava tuber, reflects its commitment to food security, economic prosperity, and improved living standards.
He expressed confidence in Governor Makinde’s capacity to lead the nation effectively if elected president in 2027, citing his administrative track record in Oyo State.
Faulting the overall performance of the Tinubu administration which he scored at 35 percent, Abayomi raised concerns over rising insecurity, kidnapping, and violent crime across the country.
He also warned against vote-buying, urging voters to resist financial inducements from politicians.
Reflecting on the party’s performance in the 2019 governorship election when Abdulkabir Akinlade ran on its platform, Abayomi pledged that the APM would work tirelessly to regain its political prominence in the state.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Coalition of Political Parties in Ogun State, Sunday Oginni, explained that the alliance was established to provide residents with a dependable option ahead of the 2027 polls.
According to him, the coalition includes the APM, the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), the African Democratic Congress (ADC), the Action Democratic Party (ADP), and other political groups committed to changing the state’s political narrative.
Oginni accused long-standing political figures of attempting to dominate the local landscape, insisting that Ogun State must not become a political extension of any neighboring state.
He maintained that the coalition would resist external influences to ensure that the interests of Ogun residents remain paramount.