Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has declared that the opposition will reject any attempt to manipulate the 2027 electoral process, warning against suppressing the will of the people in the general elections.
Makinde, who is the presidential candidate of the Allied People’s Movement, said the outcome of the 2027 polls must reflect the wishes of the electorate.
He gave the warning in Bauchi while speaking with journalists after a closed-door meeting with Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed.
“They must not suppress the will of the people. They must not suppress whatever decision they are going to take, and we will ensure that does not happen.
“We will not allow any electoral malpractice. The outcome must reflect the voice of Nigerians,” he said.
Makinde, who described the country’s current political climate as “toxic” and one of the darkest periods in the nation’s history, expressed optimism that a new political dawn was approaching.
“Being in opposition, the political environment is very toxic. It is the darkest moment, I can say that to you. But when the day is about to break, that is the darkest point.
“So, I can assure Nigerians that irrespective of the challenges we are faced with, the day is about to break for a new dawn in the country. Tomorrow, the sun will start rising again for Nigeria,” he stated.
Speaking on the APM’s chances in the 2027 presidential election, Makinde said the party was confident because Nigerians would ultimately determine the outcome of the poll.
He recalled how he emerged victorious in the 2019 Oyo State governorship election despite the dominance of the then-ruling All Progressives Congress at both the federal and state levels.
“In Oyo State in 2019, as an opposition party then in the PDP, APC was ruling at the federal level and also at the state level, but we won.
“It is the people. Democracy is about the people of Nigeria. We believe they will speak very loudly and clearly when the time comes,” he added.
Addressing concerns over insecurity in Oyo State, the governor argued that the recent security challenges should be viewed in proper context, noting that the state had enjoyed years of relative peace before the incidents.
“I have been on this job for seven years and about two months. The insecurity you mentioned happened barely two months ago. For several years, we didn’t witness anything like this in Oyo State.
“I declared to run for the presidency of Nigeria at 4 p.m., and by 9 a.m. the following morning, the children were abducted,” he said.
Earlier, Mohammed said his meeting with Makinde centred on governance, security and the future of the APM as an opposition party.
“We came together to examine challenges, exchange ideas and learn from one another. Governor Seyi Makinde, as a seasoned engineer who has accomplished so much in Oyo State, is someone from whom I have learned a great deal,” Mohammed said.
He commended Makinde’s developmental strides in Oyo State, saying the governor had executed projects that ordinarily fall within the responsibility of the Federal Government.
Mohammed added that both governors also discussed security challenges affecting their states and the growth of the APM ahead of the 2027 elections.
“We also had extensive discussions on security, which remains a major challenge for us as chief security officers of our respective states. We shared experiences and explored ways of addressing these challenges collectively.
“Most importantly, we discussed the future of our party, the APM, which is steadily growing into the next major opposition party in the country. The party is repositioning itself to play the role of a constructive opposition.
“Governor Makinde, as our presidential candidate, is working tirelessly to ensure that our campaigns are issue-based, free from malice and driven by maturity, sound ideas and capable individuals who can deliver effective leadership,” he added.
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