2027: Makinde’s Presidential Bid Gets Boost as APM Fields 103 Senate, 312 Reps Candidates

The Allied Peoples Movement (APM) has fielded 103 senatorial candidates and 312 candidates for the House of Representatives ahead of the 2027 general elections, highlighting the party’s attempt to establish a broad national political structure as Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State seeks the presidency on its platform.

The figures, contained in the final candidate information released ahead of the elections, indicate that the APM intends to contest the National Assembly elections across a substantial number of constituencies nationwide.

For Makinde’s presidential bid, the development provides a broader political platform beyond his established base in Oyo State.

Presidential elections in Nigeria are influenced by several factors, including a candidate’s profile, party organisation, grassroots networks, campaign structures and the ability to mobilise support across different regions and constituencies.

Against this background, the APM’s decision to field candidates extensively for the National Assembly elections represents an attempt to establish political structures that extend beyond the presidential contest.

The party has also confirmed the submission of its presidential and National Assembly candidates to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), describing the process as part of its preparations to strengthen its grassroots presence ahead of the 2027 elections.

At the centre of the party’s national strategy is Makinde, who is seeking to become president under the APM after serving two terms as governor of Oyo State.

Makinde’s supporters have pointed to programmes and projects undertaken by his administration in areas including infrastructure, education, healthcare, agriculture, security, the economy and civil-service welfare as part of the record with which he is approaching the national contest.

His eight years as governor have also given him executive experience at the state level, which the APM has sought to present as part of his credentials for the presidency.

Meanwhile, the party has continued to position itself as an alternative political platform ahead of the 2027 elections.

In Oyo State, the APM has recorded the movement of political actors into its fold, including APC defectors received by Makinde in Ibadan on September 21, 2026. The governor used the occasion to express confidence in the party’s prospects ahead of the elections.

However, the extent to which the APM’s national structure will translate into electoral support remains a matter for Nigerian voters and the outcome of the 2027 elections.

While the number of candidates does not by itself determine electoral success, the APM’s 103 senatorial and 312 House of Representatives candidates indicate that the party is seeking to participate extensively in the national elections rather than limiting its activities to the presidential race.

The development therefore adds another dimension to Makinde’s 2027 presidential campaign, combining his established political base in Oyo State with the APM’s attempt to build a wider national presence.

As the 2027 elections draw closer, the party’s ability to translate its candidate structure into effective grassroots organisation and voter support will remain one of the issues to watch in the unfolding political contest.