The Allied Peoples Movement (APM) has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to withdraw from the 2027 presidential race and support its presidential candidate, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde.
The party made the demand in a statement issued Friday by its National Publicity Secretary, Abubakar Yusuf, accusing the Tinubu administration of failing to provide what it described as effective leadership and alleging that the President had “abdicated his official duties” to family members, aides and other unelected persons.
Yusuf also faulted Tinubu’s absence from the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York, where Vice-President Kashim Shettima represented the President and delivered Nigeria’s national statement on September 24. The Presidency had announced ahead of the gathering that Shettima would lead Nigeria’s delegation and represent Tinubu.
“Mr President’s repeated absence at meetings of world leaders, particularly the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), also underscores his inability to effectively represent, propagate and drive Nigeria’s interest at the global level where he was expected to engage in high-level diplomatic discussions on matters affecting our nation,” Yusuf said.
The APM spokesperson also questioned the President’s physical presence in communities affected by terrorism, kidnapping and banditry, alleging that Tinubu had failed to demonstrate what the party considered sufficient leadership on security matters.
“Is it not absurd that President Tinubu has never visited any of the communities being ravaged by terrorists, kidnappers and bandits? Is it not equally absurd that President Tinubu has never directly met with grieving families and victims?” he asked.
“President Tinubu has never, as Commander-in-Chief, demonstrated the commitment and capacity to lead from the front on matters of security. Instead, any time there was an attack, his presidency would only issue lame statements, give directives or dispatch delegations rather than making direct on-the-ground visits himself.”
Yusuf further alleged that insecurity had worsened under the current administration, claiming that more than 600,000 Nigerians had been killed and many others abducted by terrorist elements over the last three years.
The party also attacked the administration’s economic policies, including the removal of petrol subsidy, tax reforms and external borrowing, alleging that they had contributed to business closures and worsening economic hardship.
“More frightening is that the future of over 250 million Nigerians has been mortgaged to foreign interests by the Tinubu administration’s reckless borrowings, which has pushed our nation’s debt burden to a scary N159.28 trillion, with nothing on the ground to show, as most of the proceeds are reported to have been diverted to private purses,” Yusuf said.
He further claimed that multinational companies had continued to leave Nigeria while millions of young Nigerians and professionals had emigrated in what he described as the “Japa” phenomenon.
“Due to the worsening situation in the country, major multinationals have been exiting our nation in droves. Over 3.7 million Nigerian youths and professionals have fled the country in what is now known as the ‘Japa’ phenomenon, resulting in the worst brain drain ever, especially in our education and health sectors,” he said.
Yusuf said the country could not afford another four years under what APM described as an “insensitive and rudderless administration”, arguing that Nigeria required a leader who would be fully engaged with governance.
“President Tinubu must understand that Nigeria requires a leader with full stamina, who is present, accessible and fully engaged in governance,” the APM spokesperson said.
Turning to Makinde, Yusuf said the party believed the Oyo State governor represented an alternative for the 2027 presidential election, describing him as a “younger, energetic and experienced leader” with what APM called a blueprint for resetting Nigeria.
“This is why Nigerians are increasingly rallying around APM’s presidential candidate and Oyo State Governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde, a younger, energetic and experienced leader who is not only holding a record of sterling performance as governor of Oyo State but also the blueprint to reset Nigeria,” he said.
The APM therefore urged Tinubu to reconsider his reported intention to seek another term and support Makinde, saying such a decision would, in the party’s view, serve the broader interest of the country.
“The APM again urges President Tinubu to reconsider his intention to seek another term, withdraw from the 2027 presidential race and be patriotic by supporting Engr. Makinde in the overall interest of the nation,” Yusuf said.
