The Allied Peoples Movement (APM) is banking on what it described as Governor Seyi Makinde’s growing acceptance among young Nigerians as a major factor in its bid to win the 2027 presidential election.

The party, in a statement issued in Abuja On Monday by its National Publicity Secretary, Abubakar Yusuf, said Makinde’s appeal was rooted not merely in campaign promises but in what it described as his past record of identifying with issues affecting the younger generation.

Yusuf cited Makinde’s handling of the 2020 #EndSARS protests in Oyo State, saying the governor recognised the protesters’ constitutional right to peaceful assembly and directed security agencies to protect them.

The party also recalled his opposition to the Federal Government’s 2021 suspension of X, formerly Twitter, on grounds that it could hurt young people whose livelihoods depended on the platform.

According to the APM, such positions had helped shape the perception of Makinde as a leader willing to defend citizens’ legitimate interests. It said the proposed Makinde Reset Nigeria Agenda would seek to deepen transparency, accountability and citizen participation while giving young Nigerians a greater role in governance.

The party, however, acknowledged that popularity alone would not deliver victory, saying it was strengthening its structures nationwide and preparing to protect votes during the 2027 elections. It urged Nigerians to remain active and resist any attempt to undermine their democratic choices through lawful and constitutional means.

The APM expressed confidence that the Makinde/Daura ticket would emerge victorious, presenting the pair as the vehicle through which it hopes to translate the governor’s growing youth appeal into a nationwide electoral breakthrough.