A quiet political courtship that began behind closed doors is now spilling into public view, with the Allied People’s Movement pointing to a fresh show of support in Ekiti State as proof that its coalition-building strategy ahead of 2027 is starting to pay off.
On Friday, thousands of Peoples Democratic Party members and other residents gathered in Ado-Ekiti to publicly reaffirm their backing for Governor Seyi Makinde as their preferred presidential candidate, even as they chose to remain within the PDP’s structure. It is a distinction the APM’s National Publicity Secretary, Abubakar Yusuf, was quick to highlight in a statement issued Sunday: these are defections in spirit, not in party card.
“That is why we have been galvanizing cross-party support for our presidential candidate, and I can confirm to you that our alliance talks with such like-minded political parties are yielding the desired results,” Yusuf said, describing the Ekiti development as the clearest evidence yet that conversations happening across party lines are translating into organized endorsements. He hinted that Ekiti would not be the last such announcement, telling reporters more solidarity moves are expected in the coming days.
For the APM, the timing could not be more significant. The party is positioning Makinde, Oyo State’s governor, as a unifying figure capable of drawing support well beyond his own party’s base, and Yusuf argued the Ekiti reaffirmation validates that bet. “We are working very hard and putting all our energy into this election because we are running to win,” he said, describing Makinde as someone who has “already become the rallying point for Nigerians, especially the youth.”
Much of the APM’s confidence rests on Makinde’s record as governor, which Yusuf cited as the foundation of his appeal beyond Oyo State’s borders. He pointed to infrastructure development, security initiatives, education and healthcare investment, agricultural programs, economic management, and civil service welfare as areas where Makinde’s performance has drawn national attention, arguing that this track record makes him “the credible alternative to President Tinubu, who has failed the nation in every ramification.”
Beyond Makinde’s personal appeal, Yusuf framed the APM itself as a growing home for Nigerians disillusioned with the political status quo, citing the party’s stated commitment to democratic accountability, transparency, security, and economic revival as reasons for its expanding grassroots support.
The party’s ambitions, according to Yusuf, extend beyond simply fielding a candidate. He described plans for an issue-based campaign built on expanding structures nationwide, framing the 2027 race as a genuine contest for power rather than a symbolic opposition bid.
“We are building the numbers, we are strengthening the structure, and we will run one of the most robust, issue-based, and winning campaigns in the history of Nigeria,” Yusuf said, extending an open invitation to Nigerians who share the party’s vision to join what he called a movement for national renewal.
