The presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement, APM, Seyi Makinde, has unveiled former Director-General of the Department of State Services, DSS, Lawal Musa Daura, as his running mate for the 2027 presidential election.
Makinde announced Daura as his running mate on Thursday at the elective National Convention of the APM held in Bauchi State.
The announcement marks a major change in the party’s presidential ticket ahead of the 2027 general election, with Daura replacing Ibrahim Adamu Bala, who had earlier been announced as Makinde’s running mate.
Makinde explained that Bala’s nomination was only a temporary arrangement and that the party had always intended to make a final decision on the vice-presidential candidate.
Daura joined the APM only a few days before his unveiling as Makinde’s running mate. He had previously resigned his membership of the African Democratic Congress, ADC.
His decision to join the APM and accept the role adds a prominent former security chief to the party’s presidential campaign ahead of the 2027 election.
Daura served as Director-General of the DSS, Nigeria’s domestic intelligence agency, and his selection is expected to attract attention because of his experience in the country’s security sector.
Makinde, while addressing party members and delegates at the convention, said the opposition had a much bigger responsibility ahead of the 2027 election than simply defeating the ruling party and taking control of government.
According to him, the main task should be to present Nigerians with a credible alternative and provide a clear direction for the country’s future.
He said political parties and candidates would naturally make promises, issue campaign slogans and present different programmes as the election approaches.
However, he urged Nigerians not to be carried away by political statements alone, stressing the need for voters to demand more from those seeking their support.
“As we approach 2027, therefore, I believe the task before all of us is bigger than winning an election. It is to give Nigerians a real choice about the future of their country,” Makinde said.
The governor said the opposition should therefore focus on the future of Nigeria and the welfare of its people rather than making the election solely about gaining political power.
His comments come as political activities begin to gather momentum ahead of the 2027 general election.
Although the election is still some months away, political parties have started positioning themselves, forming alliances and selecting candidates as they prepare for what is expected to be a keenly contested presidential race.
The 2027 election is expected to attract several political parties and opposition groups seeking to challenge the dominance of the major political parties.
The emergence of Makinde as the APM presidential candidate and Daura as his running mate is part of the growing efforts by opposition parties to build alternative political platforms ahead of the poll.
The APM convention in Bauchi provided the platform for the party to formally present its leadership and presidential ticket.
The choice of Daura also brings security and intelligence experience into the APM campaign.
Daura headed the DSS, an agency responsible for domestic intelligence, counter-intelligence and internal security matters, before leaving office.
His move to the APM followed his resignation from the ADC, where he had been associated with the opposition coalition.
The development also reflects the fluid nature of Nigerian politics ahead of the 2027 election, as politicians continue to move between political parties and opposition groups work to strengthen their structures.
For Makinde, however, the focus of the campaign should extend beyond political calculations.
The Oyo State governor said Nigerians deserved candidates who could offer practical solutions to the challenges facing the country.
He argued that the opposition must be prepared to provide voters with a meaningful alternative rather than simply asking them to reject the ruling party.
The country continues to face major economic and security challenges, including high living costs, unemployment, infrastructure gaps and concerns over insecurity.
These issues are expected to feature prominently in the campaigns leading to the 2027 election.
The removal of the petrol subsidy, rising transportation costs and efforts to revive the economy are also likely to remain major issues for political parties seeking the support of voters.
Security is another major concern, with various parts of the country continuing to face challenges linked to terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other forms of criminal activity.
Against this background, the selection of a former DSS director-general as a running mate could allow the APM to place security and intelligence matters prominently in its campaign.
However, the party will still have to convince voters that its presidential ticket can provide practical solutions to the country’s economic and social challenges.
Makinde’s message at the convention suggests that the APM intends to present its campaign as an alternative to the existing political order.
He stressed that winning an election should not be the ultimate goal of the opposition.
Instead, he said, the objective should be to give Nigerians the opportunity to choose a leadership that can secure the future of the country.
The announcement of Daura also formally settles the uncertainty surrounding Makinde’s running mate after Bala was initially presented for the position.
Bala’s earlier selection had been understood as a placeholder arrangement pending the emergence of a substantive candidate.
With Daura now unveiled, the APM is expected to begin further preparations for its presidential campaign and mobilisation ahead of the 2027 poll.
The party will also have to build its structures across the country and present its policy plans to voters as the campaign season draws closer.
Makinde and Daura will face the task of convincing Nigerians that the APM offers a credible alternative to the other parties expected to contest the presidential election.
For now, the party has placed its presidential ticket on a combination of Makinde’s political experience and Daura’s background in security and intelligence.
The APM leadership said the ticket would be presented to Nigerians as part of the party’s broader effort to provide what Makinde described as a “real choice” for the country’s future.