The Allied Peoples Movement (APM) has accused President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) of deliberately keeping Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde away from the flag-off ceremony of the Ibadan-Ijebu Ode road project because of his growing political popularity.
The party made the allegation on Tuesday, linking Makinde’s absence from the Monday event to the wider political contest ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
According to the APM, the presence of Makinde at the ceremony could have attracted significant attention and strengthened his political profile.
What Triggered the APM’s Claim?
The controversy followed Makinde’s exclusion from the ceremony for the Ibadan-Ijebu Ode road project.
In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Abubakar Yusuf, the APM alleged that the Presidency and the APC were uncomfortable with the Oyo governor’s rising profile.
The party argued that inviting Makinde to an event involving a major road project could have created an opportunity for comparisons between his administration in Oyo State and the Federal Government.
The APM further claimed that Makinde’s presence could have shifted public attention away from President Tinubu and the federal government.
APM’s Main Argument
The party’s criticism goes beyond the road project itself.
The APM alleged that the Tinubu administration and APC were concerned that Makinde’s performance and popularity could overshadow their political presence ahead of the 2027 election.
It specifically pointed to road construction as an area where it claimed the Oyo governor had performed better.
According to the party, Tinubu, despite being from the South-West, had not initiated, executed and completed up to 250 kilometres of roads across the region since assuming office in 2023.
The APM, however, claimed that Makinde had executed more than 360 kilometres of roads in Oyo State alone, with additional projects awaiting commissioning.
These figures and comparisons are claims made by the APM and were not independently established in the supplied report.
The Political Players
The controversy places several major political figures and organisations at the centre of the discussion.
President Bola Tinubu is seeking another term in 2027 under the APC.
Seyi Makinde, the governor of Oyo State, has been identified by the APM as its presidential candidate in the source material.
The Allied Peoples Movement is using Makinde’s reported political profile and record in Oyo State as part of its argument for his national leadership credentials.
Meanwhile, the APC remains the ruling political party at the federal level.
The competing political positions make Makinde’s growing national profile part of the wider conversation surrounding the 2027 contest.
Why Makinde’s Absence Has Become Political
The APM believes Makinde’s presence at the road project ceremony could have attracted substantial public attention.
The party also claimed that the governor had demonstrated an ability to build relationships with governors, political leaders and other stakeholders across the country.
According to the APM, that capacity could make Makinde a more significant political figure as the 2027 election approaches.
The party therefore interpreted his absence from the event through a political lens, alleging that the Presidency and APC were attempting to prevent his profile from becoming more prominent.
There is, however, no independent evidence in the supplied report establishing that Makinde was excluded for that reason.
The 2027 Political Calculation
The dispute comes as political actors begin positioning themselves for the next presidential election.
For the APM, portraying Makinde as a rising national figure serves to strengthen its argument that he can challenge the political dominance of the ruling APC.
The party’s comparison of Makinde’s road projects with those of the Federal Government also provides it with a way to frame the governor’s record around infrastructure and governance.
The wider significance, therefore, is not simply the absence of one politician from a project ceremony.
It is the way political parties are beginning to use public events, performance records and political visibility to shape narratives ahead of 2027.
APM Says Tinubu and APC Cannot Avoid Makinde Forever
The party has warned that the political confrontation cannot continue indefinitely.
In its statement, the APM argued that the APC and the Tinubu Presidency would eventually have to confront Makinde at the ballot box.
The party said:
“APC and the Tinubu Presidency must note that they cannot run from Governor Makinde forever.”
It further claimed that millions of Nigerians would prefer Makinde as a replacement for President Tinubu in 2027.
That statement represents the APM’s political position and should not be interpreted as evidence of an established voter preference.
What the Allegation Could Mean for 2027
The APM’s statement illustrates how political visibility and performance claims are becoming part of the early 2027 contest.
Makinde’s supporters and political allies can use his record in Oyo State to build a case for a wider national role, while the APC will remain focused on defending the Tinubu administration’s record and political support base.
The road project controversy therefore provides another example of how seemingly administrative events can become politically significant when major political figures are involved.
Whether Makinde’s profile will translate into broader national support remains an open political question.
The Bigger Question
At the heart of the APM’s argument is a broader question about the 2027 election:
Can a governor’s record at the state level become a strong enough platform for a national presidential challenge?
The APM clearly believes Makinde’s performance and political relationships give him that potential.
Its allegations against Tinubu and the APC are part of that effort to present the Oyo governor as a serious alternative ahead of the next presidential election.
However, the claims about the reasons for Makinde’s exclusion from the road project ceremony remain allegations from the APM, with no contrary response from the Presidency or APC contained in the supplied report.
Join the Conversation
Do you think Seyi Makinde’s growing political profile could become a major factor in Nigeria’s 2027 presidential contest?
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