The Allied Peoples Movement (APM) has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to withdraw from the 2027 presidential race and throw his support behind Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde.
In a statement issued on Friday, APM National Publicity Secretary, Abubakar Yusuf, claimed the President has failed to demonstrate the requisite leadership capacity to address Nigeria’s mounting socio-economic and security challenges.
Yusuf alleged that governance under the current administration has largely been delegated to unelected aides, family members, and close associates.
The opposition party criticized President Tinubu’s absence from the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, where Vice President Kashim Shettima represented Nigeria and delivered the national statement.
According to the APM, the President’s absence from high-level global summits undermines Nigeria’s diplomatic standing and international interests.
“Mr. President’s repeated absence at meetings of world leaders, particularly the United Nations General Assembly, underscores an inability to effectively represent and drive Nigeria’s interests at the global level,” Yusuf stated.
The party also faulted the administration’s response to national security challenges, criticizing the President for not visiting communities affected by insurgency, banditry, and kidnapping.
“President Tinubu has failed to lead from the front as Commander-in-Chief on matters of security,” the statement read. “Issuing directives and dispatching delegations after attacks, rather than making direct on-the-ground visits, has emboldened criminal elements.”
### **Economic Hardship and Brain Drain**
Turning to the economy, the APM criticized key policy decisions, including the removal of the petrol subsidy, proposed tax reforms, and rising public debt, arguing that these measures have exacerbated economic hardship and forced businesses to close.
The party claimed that reckless external borrowing has inflated Nigeria’s total public debt stock, while economic instability has driven an unprecedented wave of professional emigration, commonly referred to as the *Japa* phenomenon.
“Nigeria requires a leader with full stamina—one who is present, accessible, and fully engaged in governance,” Yusuf said. “This is why citizens are looking toward leaders like Governor Seyi Makinde, who possesses the energy, executive experience, and blueprint needed to reset the nation.”
The APM urged President Tinubu to prioritize national interest by foregoing a second-term bid in 2027 and supporting a transition to younger leadership.
