The Allied People’s Movement (APM) has expressed confidence that its 2027 presidential candidate, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, will defeat President Bola Tinubu in the next general election.

The party made the claim in a statement issued on Wednesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Abubakar Yusuf, while reacting to recent remarks by Presidential spokesman Daniel Bwala, who reportedly described Makinde as inconsequential.

According to the APM, the Presidency’s comments reflected growing concern over Makinde’s rising political profile ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

Yusuf said the 2027 election would ultimately determine who was truly inconsequential in the race.

“Rather than defend its record in office, the Presidency has chosen to attack personalities. The decision to deploy presidential aides to criticise Governor Makinde only shows a lack of confidence in its own achievements,” the party said.

Referring to Bwala’s interview with Al Jazeera earlier this year, the party said Nigerians were familiar with what it described as the communication style of the current administration.

“Daniel Bwala would soon eat his own words against Governor Makinde,” the statement added.

The party maintained that the 2027 presidential election would be a direct contest between Makinde and Tinubu, expressing confidence that the Oyo State governor would emerge victorious.

“President Tinubu should be jittery because Governor Makinde is coming into the contest with an intimidating record of performance, including transforming Oyo State into one of the country’s leading economies, a feat Nigerians want replicated at the national level,” Yusuf said.

The Founder and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Dr Boniface Aniebonam, has said the party will not give an automatic presidential ticket to any aspirant ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Aniebonam, in a statement issued on Wednesday in Lagos, said every aspirant seeking the party’s presidential ticket would undergo a thorough screening process to assess competence, loyalty and electoral strength.

He said the decision was informed by the party’s experience in the 2023 presidential election.

The NNPP chieftain said the party would not repeat what it described as the mistake of the 2023 election, stressing that its eventual presidential candidate would emerge through a rigorous screening process rather than an automatic ticket.

He added that all aspirants would be assessed based on their competence, electoral strength and loyalty to the party.

“We have already identified three serious presidential aspirants, and after the screening process, one of them will emerge as our flag bearer. In line with INEC’s guidelines, we have uploaded a placeholder presidential candidate on the commission’s portal pending the completion of the process,” Aniebonam said.

Aniebonam blamed the party’s delayed preparations for the 2027 elections on prolonged litigation and internal disputes involving the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, and members of the Kwankwasiyya Movement.

“We had a lot of delays due to litigation aimed at stopping Kwankwaso from hijacking the NNPP. The internal crisis also led to the defection of some members to other political parties. However, we are not deterred and our aspirants will still make their mark,” he said.

He disclosed that the party’s emergency National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting would consider dates for its national convention, review concessions for some categories of aspirants, reduce nomination fees and discuss proposed legal action against INEC.

Describing the electoral body’s alleged failure to obey court orders as sad and regrettable, Aniebonam said the NEC would ratify plans to institute legal action against the commission.

He also appealed to former members of the party to return, assuring them of equal opportunities.

“Our nomination process is fair and inclusive. Female aspirants and persons with disabilities will enjoy concessions, and we remain open to working with political parties that share our ideology,” he said.

The Director of the Abuja School of Social and Political Thought, Sam Amadi, has tackled Igbo leaders begrudging the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, over his decision to serve only one term and adhere to the rotational presidency arrangement.

Amadi wondered why prominent Igbo leaders such as Emeka Ihedioha, Governor Alex Otti of Abia State, former Aviation Minister Osita Chidoka, and Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe had not signified interest in running for the presidency and serving eight years.

He made the remark while faulting those criticising Obi following claims by the NDC’s presidential running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, that they had signed a pact under which Obi would serve only one term as Nigeria’s president before handing over power to the North.

In a post on X titled, “Much Ado about Kwankwaso Interview,​” Amadi wrote: “Sometimes you guys should try and maintain some rigor in thinking. If you believe in zoning and say, ‘Let the South finish its term and power should go back to the North in 2031.’

“What does that mean? It means that any southerner coming to the presidency will only serve for one term.

“This man has been saying he will do one term only to keep faith with zoning, which is a critical element of Nigeria’s political stability. He is now doing what he promised, and you are crying blue murder.

“Before Peter Obi came out, what stopped selfless Igbos from running for the presidency? What? It is now you guys realise you have not been president for 100 years and must do eight years?

“Why cannot your great Igbo leaders like Emeka Ihedioha, Otti, Osita, Abaribe, etc., run for the presidency and do eight years? Why are you lot begrudging Peter Obi for respecting the zoning arrangement?

“He said he believes in zoning. Zoning requires that the North takes back power in 2031. If four years is too short for you, then come out and run for the presidency and do eight years.”