2027: Makinde’s Campaign Mocks Tinubu’s Team as ‘Coalition of Failed Politicians’

The presidential campaign organisation of Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has described the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council as a “coalition of failed politicians” ahead of the 2027 general election.

The organisation, identified as the Makinde campaign’s Allied Peoples Movement Council, made the remarks in a statement issued on Wednesday by its Director of Strategic Communications, Richard Ihediwa.

It accused the council of attempting to strengthen President Bola Tinubu’s re-election campaign without addressing what it described as worsening insecurity, economic hardship and declining public confidence in the administration.

The statement referred to the APC campaign council as a “Nebuchadnezzar Coalition” and argued that bringing influential politicians together would not automatically translate into public support at the polls.

It also questioned how the ruling party’s campaign team would explain the economic difficulties facing Nigerian households, including unemployment, poverty and limited access to essential services.

The Makinde campaign cited figures on multidimensional poverty and deprivation in health and education to support its criticism of the administration. The figures were presented by the organisation as evidence of the country’s socioeconomic challenges.

The group further argued that the size of a campaign council or the number of prominent political figures backing a candidate could not replace public confidence in government performance.

“Elections are not won by the size of a campaign council, or the number of powerful figures gathered,” the statement said, maintaining that voters would ultimately decide whether their lives had improved under the current administration.

The criticism followed the APC’s unveiling of members of Tinubu’s 2027 re-election campaign council. The list reportedly includes ruling-party leaders and politicians associated with other parties, including Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo, Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke and Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike.

The inclusion of figures from outside the APC has drawn attention amid continuing political realignments ahead of the next general election.

The APC and the Presidency have yet to respond specifically to the campaign organisation’s latest remarks.

Nigeria’s 2027 election contest is already generating public exchanges between political camps, as parties seek to consolidate alliances, promote their records and challenge their opponents’ claims.