The Senator Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Organisation has said recent comments by Bauchi State Governor and Allied Peoples Movement national leader, Bala Mohammed, praising President Bola Tinubu have raised questions about Governor Seyi Makinde’s 2027 presidential bid.
The campaign organisation described Makinde’s presidential ambition under the APM as “dead on arrival”, arguing that Mohammed’s public acknowledgement of Tinubu’s performance had exposed what it called contradictions within the political camp supporting the Oyo State governor.
Mohammed had recently said Tinubu had “done so well” in areas including finance, health and security.
Reacting in a statement by its Director of Media and Publicity, Bisi Oladele, the Senator Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Organisation said the remarks were significant because Mohammed is a senior figure within the political structure associated with Makinde’s presidential ambition.
The organisation questioned the basis of Makinde’s campaign if a prominent figure within the same political camp could publicly acknowledge achievements by the incumbent administration.
It asked why Makinde should be seeking to replace Tinubu if one of the key figures associated with his political project believed the President had performed well in important sectors.
The campaign organisation also commended Mohammed for what it described as his willingness to acknowledge positive developments rather than oppose the Federal Government simply for political reasons.
It argued that Mohammed’s comments supported its position that Tinubu’s reforms were yielding results, particularly in strengthening the fiscal position of states and creating room for subnational governments to undertake development projects. These are the campaign organisation’s political claims and are not independent assessments.
The organisation further alleged that Makinde’s presidential ambition could be serving as a bargaining strategy ahead of the 2027 political realignment, rather than representing a fully established national movement.
It also pointed to Mohammed’s previous support for Makinde, saying his latest comments about Tinubu raised questions about the cohesion and sustainability of the political coalition backing the Oyo governor.
The campaign group said Makinde’s activities, including his public declarations about his plans to “reset” Nigeria, would ultimately have to contend with political structures, alliances and voter support.
It urged the Oyo governor to concentrate on his record in the state while pursuing his presidential ambition, pointing to issues such as infrastructure, education, healthcare, the local economy, workers’ welfare and the state’s finances.
The organisation acknowledged that Makinde has the constitutional right to seek the presidency but maintained that political ambition should not automatically be equated with national viability.
