 |
| Gov. Bala Mohammed |
In the humid halls of The Dome in Akure, Ondo State, on Thursday, Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed delivered a defiant message that captured the ambitions—and the contradictions—of Nigeria’s evolving opposition landscape.
Addressing the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) South-West town hall meeting, Mohammed proclaimed the relatively young party the country’s “biggest opposition” and insisted that he and its presidential candidate, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, “are not afraid of anybody.”
The declaration was more than campaign rhetoric. It underscored a calculated political realignment that has seen two sitting governors abandon the troubled Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for a once-fringe platform, betting that competence, regional balance, and a “Reset Nigeria” narrative can challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the January 16, 2027 presidential election.
From Sanctuary to Ambition
Mohammed framed the gathering in personal and historical terms. “We have come home, this is the home of Seyi Makinde, the new manifestation, the the new face of politics in Nigeria,” he said. He described APM as a young party with a young presidential candidate that is nonetheless “not young upstairs,” driven by knowledge, plans, and a clear sense of direction. The governors, he explained, had fought until they could no longer remain in their former party and found “sanctuary” in APM because the party believed in them.
“Today we are the biggest opposition in this country with two governors and a vision that we are presenting, this is the home of the visionary,” Mohammed continued. He linked the ticket to the principle of power rotation, noting that Makinde hails from Oyo, “the biggest state in the South-West.” The choice, he told the audience, now rests with the people: “We have done our part as nationalists who believe in rotation… We are not afraid as opposition, me and him have always come out of opposition, we are not afraid of anybody.”
The speech fits a pattern. In recent months Mohammed, who serves as APM national leader, has repeatedly positioned the party as a credible alternative capable of addressing insecurity, economic hardship, and governance failures. He has described Makinde—an engineer by training—as a practical problem-solver whose record in Oyo State demonstrates resource management and urban renewal, and he has endorsed the running mate, former Department of State Services Director-General Lawal Daura (also referred to in some reports as Musa Lawal Daura), for his security experience.
The Political Context: PDP Fractures and APM’s Rise
The move by Mohammed and Makinde cannot be separated from the deep internal crisis that has plagued the PDP. Leadership disputes, factional battles involving figures such as Nyesom Wike and the Tanimu Turaki-led group, and a series of court rulings left the party weakened.
Mohammed, who had chaired the PDP Governors’ Forum, formally defected in May 2026 after consultations, describing the decision as a “strategic repositioning” rather than a retreat. He emphasized the need for a viable platform ahead of 2027, particularly for his own planned senatorial bid in Bauchi South. Loyalists and local government officials followed.
Makinde’s path was similar. After emerging as APM’s presidential nominee through party primaries, he has framed his candidacy around restoring hope, practical economic reforms in oil and gas and agriculture, and a “Reset Nigeria” agenda focused on competence over slogans. APM, previously a smaller party with limited national visibility, gained sudden relevance by attracting two governors and positioning itself as a vehicle for opposition forces seeking an alternative to both the APC and a fractured PDP. Party leaders have spoken of cross-party alliance talks and grassroots mobilisation, particularly in the South-West.
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) records list Makinde as the APM presidential candidate and Daura as his running mate among the final list of contenders for the 2027 race, which also includes President Bola Tinubu (APC) and other opposition figures. The presidential election is scheduled for January 16, 2027, with governorship and state assembly polls following in February.
Strengths, Challenges, and the “Biggest Opposition” Claim
Mohammed’s assertion that APM is now the biggest opposition rests primarily on the presence of two sitting governors and the visibility that confers. In Nigeria’s politics, control of state houses provides organisational muscle, patronage networks, and a platform for national messaging. Makinde’s governance record in Oyo and Mohammed’s experience in Bauchi give the ticket tangible sub-national credentials that pure opposition parties often lack.
Yet the claim invites scrutiny. The APC remains the governing party with significant structural advantages. Other opposition platforms and candidates continue to compete for the anti-incumbency vote.
Within APM itself, tensions have surfaced. In Bauchi, a faction recently moved to suspend the state chairman amid allegations related to the influx of former PDP members and leadership arrangements. In the South-South, some state chairmen and candidates issued a vote of no confidence in Makinde, accusing his campaign of bypassing existing party structures and appointing external coordinators; they boycotted a regional town hall while expressing confidence in Mohammed as national leader. These episodes highlight the organisational growing pains of a party absorbing high-profile defectors at speed.
Analysts note that APM’s strategy leans heavily on regional symbolism—a South-West presidential candidate paired with northern security experience—and on portraying itself as a knowledge-driven alternative free of the baggage of the major parties. Whether this translates into broad national appeal will depend on fundraising, grassroots structures beyond the two governors’ states, effective alliance-building, and the ability to convert dissatisfaction with the current administration into votes.
Broader Implications for 2027
The Akure town hall forms part of a deliberate South-West push. Makinde has met with APM governorship candidates from the zone and emphasised coordination for mobilisation across Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo. Mohammed’s presence, as a northern governor and national leader, signals an attempt to project national rather than purely regional credentials. The repeated emphasis on rotation reflects longstanding debates about power-sharing in Nigerian politics and an effort to appeal to voters who feel the South-West is due another turn after previous northern-led administrations.
For ordinary Nigerians grappling with economic pressures, insecurity and infrastructure deficits, the APM message centres on practical competence and a reset of systems. Whether the party can sustain coherence, expand its base, and present a persuasive alternative remains an open question months before voters go to the polls. What is clear is that the defection of two governors has elevated a once-marginal party into a visible player and sharpened the contest for the opposition space.
Mohammed’s closing note in Akure—that he and Makinde “are not afraid”—was both a statement of resolve and a recognition of the difficult terrain ahead. In a political environment defined by shifting allegiances and intense competition, APM’s bet is that experience at the state level, a focused narrative, and regional balance can convert sanctuary into a serious national challenge. The coming months will test whether that calculation holds.
Samuel O. Sulaimon is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Naijapiz. He covers Global, News, Sports, Finance, Faiths, Education, Politics and Technology.
Post a Comment