Makinde to begin presidential campaign in Bauchi

Presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement, Seyi Makinde, will flag off his 2027 electioneering campaign in Bauchi State on November 7.

The APM National Publicity Secretary, Abubakar Yusuf, confirmed to The PUNCH on Sunday that, after the Bauchi flag-off, Makinde would take his message to states and communities across the country.

This follows Makinde’s disclosure at the APM South-East town hall meeting on Thursday that the party would unveil its manifesto in Abuja on November 4.

The Independent National Electoral Commission has fixed January 16, 2027, for the presidential election.

The publicity secretary said the campaign organisation had commenced grassroots mobilisation to garner support for the APM presidential candidate ahead of the 2027 election.

Yusuf stated, “We are confident that the town hall meetings have demonstrated the general acceptance of the APM and its presidential candidate, Seyi Makinde, as a credible replacement for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the APC, particularly on issues of competence, mental stability and state of mind.

“The party intends to commence its campaign tour in Bauchi State soon. The APM has also unveiled a strategy at its town hall meetings to continue sensitising its members and Nigerians, irrespective of their political affiliations, on the need to embrace Engr. Seyi Makinde and replicate the good works he has done in Oyo State at the federal level

We have already commenced a unit-to-unit, house-to-house, roof-to-roof and ward-to-ward campaign to persuade Nigerians to move away from what we consider the lame-duck administration of President Tinubu and embrace the highly spirited candidacy of Seyi Makinde of the APM. We are determined to actualise this objective.”

On funding the nationwide campaign, a credible source in the Makinde-Daura Presidential Campaign Organisation said funding would not be a problem, adding that “Makinde enjoys organic support from people who need no inducement.”

The source said the party had received encouraging feedback from town hall meetings across the six geopolitical zones and would rely on voluntary contributions and grassroots support to fund its nationwide campaign.

He stated, “From the town hall meetings we have conducted, we have visited all six geopolitical zones. The people appreciate the fact that someone like Seyi Makinde is running for president, and they are willing to support him. The feedback has been encouraging, particularly because we enjoy widespread support from Nigerians across the country.

“The campaign will officially kick off on November 7 in Bauchi State, the home state of APM national leader, Governor Bala Mohammed. From there, we will move to other states across the country. We will take the campaign to every nook and cranny of Nigeria, taking his message directly to the people.

“Funding will not be a problem because the support we enjoy is organic. We have the backing of Nigerians who are willing to volunteer, make sacrifices and give their all to support Seyi Makinde and the APM’s mission to reset Nigeria. There are supporters who need no inducement. They understand that this is not about what they stand to gain but about what they can contribute. They are willing to give their all, make sacrifices, participate in the democratic process and ensure that democracy triumphs.”

Meanwhile, the Oyo State Governorship Campaign Council of the APM on Sunday expanded its campaign committees with the addition of new members.

The party said this was part of efforts to strengthen coordination, mobilisation and grassroots engagement ahead of the 2027 general elections.

A statement issued by the Director-General of the Oyo APM Governorship Campaign Council, Dr Nureni Adeniran, in Ibadan, the state capital, disclosed that the expansion was designed to enhance the effectiveness of the council’s operations and ensure wider participation in the campaign structure.

Adeniran said, “A new Community Relations and Voters’ Education Committee has been established, while the existing Mobilisation Committee has been divided into specialised subcommittees to improve coordination and deliver more effective results.

“The expanded campaign committees would be formally inaugurated at the Local Government Hall, Secretariat, in Ibadan, on Friday, November 6, 2026, by 3 p.m.”

He expressed confidence that the additions and restructuring would strengthen the council’s capacity to engage communities, mobilise supporters, promote voter education and coordinate campaign activities across the state.

Additional members were added to the following committees: Media and Publicity, Logistics and Transportation, Reconciliation and Contacts, and Protocol and Accommodation.

Members were also added to the following committees: Mobilisation, Youth and Women Contact, Workers and Pensioners, Religious Contact, and Groups and Volunteers Support.

Others are Security and Traffic, Community Relations and Voters’ Education, Ethnic Group, Traders and Artisans Support, Venue and Stage, and Welfare and Medical.

The statement said, “Oyo APM Campaign Council reaffirms its commitment to building an effective campaign structure capable of reaching communities across the state, strengthening stakeholder engagement and coordinating activities towards the party’s electoral objectives.”