Nigeria's Oyo Governor Seyi Makinde vows fair 2027 election, seeks greater security authority

Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, who is also the presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), said the party will not tolerate any electoral malpractice ahead of Nigeria's 2027 general election. Speaking in Bauchi after a meeting with Governor Bala Mohammed, Makinde warned that the vote must reflect the will of Nigerians and cited his 2019 victory in Oyo as proof that opposition can succeed.

Makinde also argued that state governors lack constitutional power to issue operational orders to police, the Department of State Services or the military, despite being designated chief security officers of their states. He called for a review of Nigeria's security architecture so that responsibilities are matched with authority, referencing recent abductions in Oyo as examples of the challenges faced under the current system. The governor said any curfew measures must consider economic impacts and affirmed that the APM is positioning itself as a strong opposition platform for the upcoming election.