By Ayomide Otitoju
Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has picked former Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Lawal Musa Daura, as his running mate for the 2027 presidential election under the Allied Peoples Movement (APM).
Makinde unveiled Daura on Thursday at the APM National Convention held at the Dr Rilwanu Sulaimanu Adamu Square in Bauchi State, where he was formally elected as the party’s presidential candidate.
Daura replaces Ibrahim Adamu Bala, who had earlier been announced as Makinde’s running mate in what was reportedly considered a temporary arrangement pending the selection of a substantive candidate.
Accepting the APM presidential ticket, Makinde pledged to work with like-minded politicians and stakeholders to build a better Nigeria ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He also promised to tackle insecurity and address the rising poverty affecting millions of Nigerians, blaming part of the hardship on poorly implemented government policies.
Makinde said his decision to choose Daura was deliberate, citing the former intelligence chief’s experience as an important asset in addressing Nigeria’s security challenges.
Daura served as Director-General of the State Security Service from 2015 to 2018, giving him extensive experience in intelligence and national security matters.
The former DSS chief recently joined the APM after leaving the African Democratic Congress (ADC), where he had been involved in political activities in Katsina State.
Makinde’s emergence as the APM presidential candidate places him among the contenders expected to challenge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other candidates in the 2027 presidential election.
At the convention, Makinde also called for greater cooperation among opposition parties, saying a credible opposition was essential to strengthening Nigeria’s democracy and giving voters an alternative in 2027.
The Makinde-Daura ticket brings together executive governance experience and national security expertise as the APM begins preparations for the 2027 presidential election.
