The Allied People’s Movement, APM, has described the outcome of the Osun State governorship election as a warning to President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
The party said the victory recorded by the opposition in Osun showed that voters could reject an established political party when they were dissatisfied with its performance.
The APM, which has Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State as its presidential candidate for the 2027 election, said the Osun result could be a sign of what awaits the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, in the next presidential contest.
The party made its position known in a statement issued on Sunday by its National Publicity Secretary, Yusuf Abubakar.
It said the outcome of Saturday’s election in Osun, a state with strong political links to Tinubu, had demonstrated the ability of voters to defeat an incumbent political establishment.
“The triumph of the people over the All Progressives Congress in Saturday’s governorship election in President Tinubu’s home state, Osun, not only foretastes the defeat that awaits President Tinubu in 2027 but also firmly establishes Makinde’s people-driven position that every political establishment seems unbeatable until the people decide otherwise,” the party said.
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, declared Governor Ademola Adeleke the winner of the election after he defeated the APC candidate, Bola Oyebamiji.
Adeleke polled 511,067 votes and won in 19 local government areas, while Oyebamiji scored 444,815 votes and won in 11 local government areas.
The result secured Adeleke a second term in office and gave the opposition Accord Party an important victory in one of the South-West states that will be closely watched as political activities ahead of 2027 increase.
The APM said the result showed that political power ultimately belonged to voters and not political parties.
It also pointed to reported reactions from voters and alleged booing of some APC leaders during the election period, saying such incidents reflected growing dissatisfaction with the ruling party.
“Judging from the disposition of Nigerians as witnessed in the booing of APC leaders, President Tinubu and his party will struggle to command any genuine audience during the upcoming campaigns,” Abubakar said.
The party argued that the APC could face serious challenges in the 2027 election if Nigerians continued to experience economic hardship, insecurity and what it described as poor governance.
It said issues such as inflation, unemployment, insecurity, poor infrastructure and the rising cost of living would likely play a major role in determining how Nigerians vote in 2027.
The APM also claimed that there were signs of dissatisfaction within the APC itself.
The party cited alleged instances where some APC members and candidates had chanted “APM” at political gatherings.
It specifically referred to a recent APC rally in Oyo State where it alleged that an APC governorship candidate repeatedly chanted the name of the opposition party.
The APM said such incidents should serve as a warning to Tinubu and the APC leadership that the political environment was changing ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The party also used the opportunity to promote the political record of its presidential candidate, Makinde, who has governed Oyo State since 2019.
According to the APM, Makinde has demonstrated the ability to provide what it described as competent, transparent and people-oriented leadership.
It claimed that Nigerians were increasingly identifying with the Oyo governor because of his record in office and his plans for the country.
“Nigerians are gravitating toward Seyi Makinde because they see in him the right presidential candidate with the desired track record of performance, practical blueprint, competence and youthful commitment to reset Nigeria to a nation of our collective dream,” the statement said.
Makinde, who has served as governor of Oyo State since 2019, is due to complete his second and final term in 2027.
The APM said his experience in managing Oyo State had prepared him for the larger responsibilities of leading the country.
The party also pointed to what it described as the growth of Oyo State’s economy under Makinde and said his administration had demonstrated that effective leadership could improve the fortunes of a state.
It further referred to a visit by a president of an unnamed African country to Oyo State to exchange ideas with Makinde on leadership and development.
The APM described the visit as evidence of growing recognition of the governor’s performance outside Oyo State.
However, the party did not provide specific details of the economic figures or other evidence to support all its claims about Makinde’s performance.
It also accused the Tinubu administration of failing to adequately address the country’s economic and security challenges.
The party described the government’s policies as a source of hardship for Nigerians and alleged that the administration had failed to provide the level of leadership expected by citizens.
“Of course, Nigerians can no longer continue to stomach the arrogance in failure, totalitarian proclivities, worsening insecurity and economic hardship that the Tinubu administration now represents,” the party said.
The APM’s comments come as political parties and politicians begin preparations for the 2027 general elections.
Although the presidential election is still some months away, political alignments and campaigns are already taking shape, with the performance of the Tinubu administration expected to be a major issue.
The economy, security, unemployment, food prices and the cost of living are among the issues likely to shape the political debate.
The Osun election has also become an important reference point for political parties seeking to assess the strength of the APC and opposition parties ahead of 2027.
While opposition parties have interpreted Adeleke’s victory as evidence of growing dissatisfaction with the APC, the ruling party is expected to examine the result and identify areas where it needs to strengthen its support.
The APM, however, said the APC should not underestimate the determination of Nigerian voters.
It warned the ruling party against any attempt to manipulate the 2027 presidential election, saying the will of the people must be respected.
“Our party therefore cautions the APC to read the handwriting on the wall and perish any thoughts of rigging the 2027 presidential election, as any attempt to subvert the will of the people will be firmly resisted by Nigerians on the platform of the APM,” Abubakar said.
The party congratulated Nigerians over what it described as the triumph of the people’s will in Osun.
It said the outcome of the election had strengthened its determination to challenge the APC at the federal level in 2027.
The APM said it would use the period leading to the election to mobilise Nigerians around its proposed political agenda and present Makinde as an alternative to the APC administration.
The party also promised to lead what it described as a collective effort to “redeem our nation from the stranglehold of the APC” in January 2027.
The statement marks one of the early attempts by an opposition party to interpret the Osun governorship election as a wider political signal ahead of the presidential contest.
However, whether the Osun result will translate into a similar outcome at the national level remains uncertain.
Presidential elections involve different political calculations, candidates, alliances and voter interests across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
For now, the APM believes the Osun result has shown that no political party is unbeatable when voters decide to seek a change.
The party said it would build on what it described as the momentum from Osun as it prepares for the 2027 presidential election and seeks to present Makinde as its preferred alternative to Tinubu.