Governor Seyi Makinde joining the APM for a 2027 presidential run is a tactical move designed to fracture Southern Nigerian votes
Professor Okey Ikechukwu, the Executive Director of Development Specs Academy, claimed that the political realignment involving Oyo State Governor Seyi Abiodun Makinde is a calculated strategy to divide Southern electoral strength.
Also read: Wike Blasts PDP-APM Alliance Claim as Political Fraud
Speaking during a live broadcast on Arise Television in Lagos, the academic and policy analyst argued that the governor’s recent shift away from the core structures of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, serves wider interests ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The intervention followed the formal announcement by Seyi Makinde regarding his presidential ambitions under the banner of the Allied Peoples Movement, APM.
This move comes amid a burgeoning grand alliance between a faction of the PDP and the APM, a development that has sent shockwaves through the Nigerian political landscape.
Professor Ikechukwu characterized the defection as a sinister blow to the unity of the opposition.
He suggested that the fragmentation of the primary opposition party has reached a point where its national influence is effectively neutralized.
According to the Professor, the internal factionalization is now so profound that the party’s identity as a cohesive national force has been all but destroyed.
The academic noted that whether Seyi Makinde remains in the country or seeks external support, the primary outcome of this alliance remains the same.
He argued that the influence of figures such as Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike has contributed to a situation where the PDP may struggle to field a viable candidate for the next election cycle.
Furthermore, Professor Ikechukwu emphasized that any remaining candidates produced by the splintered factions would likely serve only to dilute the concentration of votes in the Southern regions.
He maintained that this lack of cohesion makes it increasingly difficult for the opposition to mount a significant challenge to the ruling establishment in 2027.
The broadcast highlighted the shifting loyalties within the Nigerian political class as the country moves closer to another major electoral milestone.
Also read: Ohanaeze, ICA Mobilise 1.2m Igbos for 2027 PVC Drive
Critics of the governor’s move have echoed Professor Ikechukwu’s concerns, suggesting that the “handshake” between the PDP and APM may benefit the status quo more than it serves the electorate.
