Makinde Names Ex-DSS Chief Daura as APM 2027 Running Mate

Lawal Musa Daura, who previously served as director-general of Nigeria's intelligence services from 2015 to 2018, has been named as the running mate of Seyi Makinde for the 2027 general election. Makinde, governor of Oyo State and the Allied Peoples Movement's presidential candidate, unveiled this selection at the party's Thursday national convention in Bauchi State at a government facility.

Through this pairing, Makinde aims to signal commitment to tackling Nigeria's ongoing security challenges. The Oyo State information commissioner released a statement explaining that naming someone with extensive intelligence background reflects the campaign's emphasis on security.

The decision underscores how the ticket plans to confront the nation's persistent security threats. During the convention proceedings, Makinde articulated a comprehensive platform for opposition forces heading into 2027.

Rather than limiting the opposition's role to winning elections, he stressed something more fundamental: furnishing Nigerians with a meaningful choice compared to the incumbent administration. This alternative, he contended, must rest on specific initiatives and track records demonstrating tangible gains that would enhance ordinary citizens' circumstances.

Makinde further championed cooperation across various opposition factions to establish unified opposition participation in 2027. He maintained that Nigeria's democratic system depends on having robust, trustworthy opposition movements.

The governor directed the APM's freshly selected officers to partner with rival opposition parties on this collaborative undertaking, characterizing such alignment as foundational to democratic stability and not merely a tactic for electoral success.