The National Chairman of the Allied People’s Movement (APM) and Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Yusuf Dantalle, has endorsed the presidential ambition of the Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde, describing him as a capable leader with the experience to reposition Nigeria.
Dantalle made the declaration during an appearance on Frontline, a current affairs programme on Eagle 102.5 FM in Ilese Ijebu, Ogun State.
According to him, the APM’s decision to back Makinde was based on his performance record and leadership credentials.
“Democracy is about the people. Democracy is about people making the right decisions that represent their interests politically, socially, economically and otherwise,” he said.
Dantalle argued that Makinde’s administration in Oyo State has demonstrated practical leadership through improvements in infrastructure, economic stability and peaceful coexistence.
“If you go to Oyo, you will see that he has been tested with leadership in the state as one of the largest states in this country. He has performed very well,” he stated.
He added that the transformation witnessed in the state over the last decade reflected deliberate efforts in governance and development.
“If you have been to Oyo in the past, maybe nine or ten years, and then you are in Oyo now, you know that this is not the Oyo of that period,” Dantalle said.
The IPAC chairman further described Makinde as a youthful and competent leader whose engineering background positions him well for national leadership.
“With that performance, and a young man, an engineer, who feels he is capable compared to what we have seen around, he can steer the ship of Nigeria to the next level,” he added.
Dantalle also linked the growing movement of politicians into the APM to internal crises within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and other political parties.
“The legal health of PDP and a few other parties is what it is today. In their rational thinking, they decided that they would not allow their party to die, but for want of time, they needed a platform,” he explained.
He further claimed that Makinde and several politicians had formally joined the APM.
“Today, Seyi Makinde is a member of APM,” Dantalle declared.
According to him, aspirants who had intended to contest elections under the PDP would now pursue their ambitions on the APM platform.
Dantalle defended the alliance arrangement, insisting that political coalitions are constitutional and not new in Nigeria’s democratic process. He recalled that similar alliances existed during the 2023 elections involving the PDP, APM and other parties.
Addressing concerns about a possible one-party state, the IPAC chairman dismissed the suggestion, arguing that Nigeria’s political environment remains competitive.
“I continuously disagree with anybody anytime who would say that Nigeria has drifted to one party. It is not a possibility,” he said.
He also expressed concern over insecurity and economic hardship across the country, warning that kidnappings and attacks on farmers, teachers and communities threaten national development.
“Nigerians are suffering, whether we like it or not,” Dantalle stated.
He concluded by aligning the APM’s vision with what he described as Makinde’s “reset Nigeria” agenda aimed at rebuilding the country through transparent governance and reforms.
