APM Urges Tinubu to Withdraw from 2027 Race

The Allied Peoples Movement (APM) has urged President Bola Tinubu to withdraw from the 2027 presidential race and support its presidential candidate, Seyi Makinde.

In a statement on Friday, APM National Publicity Secretary Abubakar Yusuf accused the Tinubu administration of failing to provide what the party described as effective leadership for Nigeria.

Yusuf also alleged that Tinubu had ceded aspects of his official responsibilities to family members, aides and other unelected individuals.

The party further criticised Tinubu’s absence from the 81st United Nations General Assembly, where Vice-President Kashim Shettima represented Nigeria and delivered the country’s national statement.

According to Yusuf, the president’s absence from the gathering prevented him from directly engaging world leaders on issues affecting Nigeria and advancing the country’s interests internationally.

The APM spokesperson also criticised Tinubu’s handling of insecurity, questioning the president’s absence from communities affected by terrorism, kidnapping and banditry and his failure, according to the party, to meet directly with victims and bereaved families.

Yusuf accused the administration of responding to attacks mainly through statements, directives and delegations rather than direct visits to affected areas. He further claimed that more than 600,000 Nigerians had been killed and many others abducted by terrorist groups over the past three years.

“Mr President’s repeated absence at meetings of world leaders, particularly the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), also underscores his inability to effectively represent, propagate and drive Nigeria’s interest at the global level where he was expected to engage in high-level diplomatic discussions on matters affecting our nation,” the statement reads.

“Is it not absurd that President Tinubu has never visited any of the communities being ravaged by terrorists, kidnappers and bandits? Is it not equally absurd that President Tinubu has never directly met with grieving families and victims?

“President Tinubu has never, as Commander-in-Chief, demonstrated the commitment and capacity to lead from the front on matters of security. Instead, any time there was an attack, his presidency would only issue lame statements, give directives or dispatch delegations rather than making direct on-the-ground visits himself.

“Such a languid approach to issues of insecurity under President Tinubu continues to embolden terrorists, bandits and kidnappers, resulting in the reported killing of over 600,000 Nigerians and abduction of many more by terrorist elements in the last three years.”

The party also faulted the administration’s economic policies, including the removal of the petrol subsidy, tax reforms and external borrowing.

Yusuf alleged that the policies had contributed to business closures, worsening economic hardship and a rise in the country’s debt burden.

He also claimed that multinational companies were leaving Nigeria and that more than 3.7 million Nigerian youths and professionals had left the country in what he described as the “Japa” phenomenon, contributing to brain drain in sectors including education and healthcare.

“More frightening is that the future of over 250 million Nigerians has been mortgaged to foreign interests by the Tinubu administration’s reckless borrowings, which has pushed our nation’s debt burden to a scary N159.28 trillion, with nothing on the ground to show, as most of the proceeds are reported to have been diverted to private purses,” he said.

“Due to the worsening situation in the country, major multinationals have been exiting our nation in droves. Over 3.7 million Nigerian youths and professionals have fled the country in what is now known as the “Japa” phenomenon, resulting in the worst brain drain ever, especially in our education and health sectors.”

The APM said Nigeria could not afford another four years under what it described as an ineffective administration.

The party called on Tinubu to reconsider his reported intention to seek another term and instead support Makinde, whom it described as a younger and experienced leader with a record of performance as Oyo State governor and a plan to reset Nigeria.

The APM said withdrawing from the 2027 race and supporting its candidate would, in its view, serve the national interest.

“President Tinubu must understand that Nigeria requires a leader with full stamina, who is present, accessible and fully engaged in governance,” an APM spokesperson said.

“This is why Nigerians are increasingly rallying around APM’s presidential candidate and Oyo State Governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde, a younger, energetic and experienced leader who is not only holding a record of sterling performance as governor of Oyo State but also the blueprint to reset Nigeria.

“The APM again urges President Tinubu to reconsider his intention to seek another term, withdraw from the 2027 presidential race and be patriotic by supporting Engr. Makinde in the overall interest of the nation.”