APM asks Tinubu to quit 2027 race, back Makinde

ABUJA — The Allied Peoples Movement (APM) has urged President Bola Tinubu to withdraw from the 2027 presidential race and support its candidate, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde.

The party, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Abubakar Yusuf, on Friday, said Tinubu had failed to demonstrate what it described as the leadership required to address the country’s security and economic challenges.

Yusuf alleged that the President had “abdicated his official duties” to family members, aides and other unelected persons.

He also faulted Tinubu’s absence from the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York, where Vice-President Kashim Shettima represented Nigeria and delivered the country’s national statement.

The APM spokesman said the President’s absence from the gathering of world leaders reflected what the party described as his inability to effectively represent Nigeria’s interests at the international level.

“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,” he said.

Yusuf also criticised the administration’s handling of insecurity, alleging that Tinubu had neither visited communities affected by attacks nor directly met with victims and grieving families.

“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.

He alleged that the administration’s response to insecurity had largely involved issuing statements, giving directives and sending delegations instead of direct visits to affected communities.

Yusuf further claimed that more than 600,000 Nigerians had been killed by terrorist groups in the last three years. He did not provide supporting evidence for the figure in the statement.

The APM also faulted the administration’s economic policies, particularly the removal of the petrol subsidy, tax reforms and external borrowing, which it said had worsened economic hardship and contributed to business closures.

Yusuf cited Nigeria’s N159.28 trillion public debt, describing the figure as evidence of what he called reckless borrowing by the administration.

The Debt Management Office had reported total public debt of N159.28 trillion as of December 31, 2025.

Yusuf, however, alleged that there was little to show for the borrowed funds and claimed that some of the proceeds had been diverted to private interests. He did not provide evidence to support the allegation.

He also claimed that more than 3.7 million Nigerian youths and professionals had left the country under the “Japa” phenomenon, describing the development as a major source of brain drain, particularly in the education and health sectors.

The APM said Nigeria could not afford another four years under what it described as an “insensitive and rudderless administration.”

“President Tinubu must understand that Nigeria requires a leader with full stamina, who is present, accessible and fully engaged in governance,” Yusuf said.

He described Makinde as a “younger, energetic and experienced leader” with a record in Oyo State and said the governor had a blueprint to “reset Nigeria.”

The APM therefore urged Tinubu to reconsider his bid for a second term, withdraw from the 2027 presidential race and support Makinde “in the overall interest of the nation.”