SSACO says APM South-South leaders’ rejection of Seyi Makinde exposes weaknesses in his 2027 presidential ambition and raises questions about his political future.
The Senator Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Organisation (SSACO) has described the reported rejection of Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde by leaders of the Allied People’s Movement (APM) in the South-South geopolitical zone as another indication that his presidential ambition may face significant political challenges ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The campaign organisation maintained that the development supported its earlier position that Makinde’s reported presidential aspiration lacked a solid political foundation, alleging that the governor was using the ambition as a strategy to advance his political interests rather than pursue a realistic path to the presidency.
The reaction followed a newspaper advertorial published on Wednesday in which APM stakeholders from the South-South reportedly passed a vote of no confidence in Makinde, questioning his leadership capacity, political commitment and ability to provide effective direction for the party.
In their assessment, the party stakeholders accused the governor of failing to demonstrate the qualities required to lead the organisation effectively.
They also raised concerns about his credibility and relationship with party members.
“He came to the party with a promise of lies and has been wallowing in an ocean of dishonesty, political compromise and incompetence.
If he cannot be honest to his party men, how can he be honest to Nigerians he aspires to lead?” the APM leaders reportedly asked.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, SSACO Director of Media and Publicity, Bisi Oladele, said the development had reinforced the organisation’s criticism of Makinde’s political calculations ahead of the next general elections.
According to the campaign organisation, the governor’s presidential ambition was allegedly intended to serve as a bargaining instrument for securing a favourable political position ahead of the 2027 elections.
SSACO further alleged that Makinde was aware of the difficulties associated with winning the presidential election but was projecting the ambition to influence political calculations in the South-West, particularly in ways that could affect President Bola Tinubu’s electoral prospects in the region.
The organisation, however, expressed confidence that Tinubu would defeat Makinde in Oyo State if both politicians became electoral opponents in the 2027 presidential election.
It also predicted that Senator Sharafadeen Alli would defeat Hon. Bimbo Adekanmbi in the anticipated Oyo State governorship contest, accusing Makinde of attempting to secure an additional term for his preferred candidate.
SSACO described such an arrangement as undemocratic and argued that Alli’s proposed Oyo AHEAD agenda would accelerate development across the state if he emerged as governor.
“The good news is that he will not only lose to President Tinubu in Oyo State, his lackey — Hon. Bimbo Adekanmbi — who he is desperate to install for an undemocratic third term, will be flatly defeated by Senator Sharafadeen Alli, whose Oyo AHEAD agenda will put Oyo State on a faster development lane from next year,” the statement said.
The campaign organisation also claimed that Makinde was experiencing growing political isolation, pointing to reported resignations involving some of his associates, aides and party figures in Oyo State.
According to SSACO, the alleged departures reflected dissatisfaction with the governor’s leadership style and decisions.
It argued that the reported developments raised questions about his ability to maintain political cohesion within his immediate political environment.
The organisation said the concerns expressed by the APM stakeholders in the South-South were consistent with what it described as growing dissatisfaction among some political actors in Oyo State.
SSACO further alleged that Makinde had failed to adequately recognise established party structures and had distanced himself from individuals who supported his successful governorship campaigns in 2019 and 2023.
The campaign organisation argued that a politician seeking the country’s highest political office should first demonstrate the ability to manage relationships, maintain unity and build confidence among party members.
Its position echoed a question reportedly raised by one of the APM leaders during a meeting on Tuesday.
“If a man cannot manage his party in his own state, how can he manage Nigeria?” the South-South party leader was quoted as asking.
The reported criticism from the APM stakeholders also focused on what they described as a pattern of strained relationships between Makinde and members of his political circle.
The leaders reportedly maintained that the governor’s alleged disregard for party structures in Oyo State was similar to what they described as his abandonment of individuals who helped him secure victory in the 2019 and 2023 governorship elections.
They also cited the reported resignations of political appointees and aides in recent weeks as part of the reasons they questioned his leadership capacity.
According to the position attributed to the stakeholders, the developments in Oyo State raised concerns about whether Makinde could effectively manage a broader political organisation and earn the confidence of party members nationwide.
SSACO said it welcomed the reported position of the APM South-South leaders, describing it as evidence that its criticisms of the governor were gaining attention among political stakeholders.
“The SSACO is glad that more stakeholders are now seeing through Makinde’s lies and rejecting his antics, confirming that no Nigerian takes Makinde seriously again. His ambition is what it is: a smokescreen and dead on arrival,” the organisation stated.
The campaign organisation concluded by reiterating its opposition to Makinde’s presidential ambition and expressing confidence in Senator Alli’s political prospects ahead of the 2027 elections.
The allegations and electoral predictions contained in the statement represent the position of SSACO and the views attributed to the APM South-South stakeholders.
The claims concerning Makinde’s political intentions and future electoral performance were not independently established in the statement.