South-South Youths Endorse Makinde-Daura APM Ticket, Seek 2027 Campaign Flag-Off in Uyo
ISSN: 2354-4481
By Wilmington Obaro
Uyo, Akwa Ibom State- South-South youths from Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Edo, Delta and Rivers states have declared their support for the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) ahead of the 2027 general elections, endorsing the party’s presidential candidate, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, and his running mate, former Department of State Services (DSS) Director-General Lawal Musa Daura.
The declaration was made at a gathering held at Vinpy Hotel in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, where youth representatives from the five states discussed their political expectations and the need for greater youth participation in the 2027 electoral process.
The meeting also provided an opportunity for aspirants seeking elective positions under the APM platform to present their programmes and interact with political stakeholders and youth representatives from across the Niger Delta.
A major resolution of the gathering was a request to Makinde to officially commence his 2027 presidential campaign in Uyo.
The South-South youth coalition moved a motion calling on the APM presidential candidate to choose Uyo as the venue for the flag-off of his campaign, describing the region as strategically important to the party's efforts to expand its support base ahead of the election.
The endorsement comes shortly after the APM formally presented Makinde and Daura as its presidential and vice-presidential candidates for the 2027 election.
Makinde emerged as the APM presidential candidate at the party's national convention in Bauchi on August 13, 2026. At the same convention, Daura was unveiled as his running mate. Daura previously served as Director-General of the DSS between 2015 and 2018.
Makinde has said the choice of Daura was deliberate, citing the former intelligence chief's experience as the country confronts persistent security challenges. The governor has also positioned the APM as an alternative political platform and called for a focus on practical solutions to Nigeria's economic, security and social challenges.
The South-South endorsement therefore represents an early mobilisation effort for the Makinde-Daura ticket in the Niger Delta, although the extent to which the declaration translates into broader electoral support will depend on the coalition's grassroots organisation and the APM's campaign structure across the region.
The youth gathering also highlighted the growing attention being given to young voters ahead of the 2027 election. With the South-South comprising six states—Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo and Rivers—the region remains an important political bloc in national elections.
The coalition's request for a campaign flag-off in Uyo could give Akwa Ibom increased visibility in the APM's national campaign if the party accepts the proposal.
The endorsement is also expected to form part of wider efforts by the APM to build support beyond its traditional political base. The party's national leadership has said it intends to expand its grassroots presence and compete seriously in the 2027 election.
For the South-South youths involved in the Uyo meeting, the endorsement represents their stated preference for the Makind-Daura ticket and their call for stronger political engagement with young people across the region.
Uyo is the capital of Akwa Ibom State in Nigeria's South-South geopolitical zone. It is an important administrative, commercial and political centre in the Niger Delta and has increasingly hosted political meetings, conferences and campaign-related activities involving stakeholders from across the region.
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