Oyo State Governor and presidential candidate of the Allied People’s Movement (APM), Seyi Makinde, has met with the party’s governorship candidates from the South-West as preparations intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The meeting, held on Monday, focused on strengthening the party’s structures, coordinating grassroots mobilisation and developing a broader electoral strategy across the geopolitical zone.

In Brief

Makinde met with APM governorship candidates from the South-West as the party works to improve coordination between its presidential campaign and state-level political structures ahead of the 2027 elections.

The discussions reportedly covered Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo states, with particular attention given to grassroots engagement and building structures capable of supporting the party’s electoral activities.

What Happened?

Among those reportedly present at the meeting were Bimbo Adekanmbi, the APM governorship candidate in Oyo State; Prince Laja Adeoye of Lagos State; Rotimi Babajide of Ogun State; and the party’s candidate in Osun State.

A source familiar with the meeting told The Nation that discussions centred on developing a coordinated campaign strategy aimed at expanding the party’s electoral strength across the South-West.

The source said attention was given to the need for stronger political structures across the six states in the region, while also improving coordination between the presidential campaign and the various governorship campaigns.

The meeting also reportedly considered ways of deepening grassroots engagement as the party prepares for the 2027 elections.

Meeting Outcomes

The discussions reportedly focused on several areas of APM’s preparations for the elections.

These included:

• strengthening the party’s structures across the South-West;
• improving coordination among governorship candidates;
• deepening grassroots mobilisation;
• developing a coordinated campaign strategy; and
• aligning state-level campaigns with Makinde’s presidential campaign.

The source also indicated that the party is looking beyond the South-West as part of a wider effort to strengthen its presence in other parts of the country.

Key Players

Makinde is at the centre of the development in his dual role as Oyo State governor and APM presidential candidate.

The meeting also brought together APM governorship candidates who are expected to lead the party’s campaigns at the state level.

Those reportedly present included Bimbo Adekanmbi of Oyo State, Prince Laja Adeoye of Lagos State and Rotimi Babajide of Ogun State, alongside the party’s candidate in Osun State.

The candidates form part of the party’s state-level political structure in the South-West, where APM is seeking to coordinate its activities ahead of the 2027 elections.

Background

Makinde emerged as the APM presidential candidate after securing the party’s ticket during its presidential primary in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

In his acceptance speech, the governor pledged to pursue reforms aimed at restoring public confidence and addressing challenges confronting critical sectors of the economy.

He identified oil and gas, agriculture and broader economic reforms among the areas that would receive attention under his proposed administration.

Makinde had earlier declared his presidential ambition on the APM platform in May 2026.

His movement to the party followed internal disputes and legal challenges within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), where he had previously been a prominent figure.

What This Means For APM

The meeting highlights the importance of coordination between APM’s presidential and governorship campaigns as the party prepares for the 2027 elections.

By bringing candidates from across the South-West together, the party appears to be placing emphasis on building a more coordinated regional structure rather than operating its campaigns entirely at the individual state level.

The reported focus on grassroots mobilisation also suggests that the party sees state-level structures and local engagement as important components of its broader electoral preparations.

However, the meeting itself does not establish how much electoral support APM will ultimately secure across the region. Its significance at this stage is primarily in the organisation and coordination of the party’s preparations.

What’s Next?

APM is expected to continue its mobilisation efforts across the South-West and other parts of the country as preparations for the 2027 general elections progress.

The party’s ability to translate the reported coordination among its candidates into functioning grassroots structures will become clearer as political activities and campaign preparations intensify.