By Haruna Musa Musaf
Nigeria’s politics is a compelling paradox and the paradoxes continue even as the countdown to the 2027 elections draws nearer. The Allied People’s Movement, APM, one of the growing opposition political parties in the country and it’s teeming army of supporters across the country are working tirelessly to ensure that they roadblock the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, and it’s flagbearer, President Bola Tinubu from returning to power.
Today, Nigeria is being confronted with the worst level of insecurity and economic hardship since Independence under the watch of the present party and leadership.But the incumbent desperately wants a second term, while the opposition political parties think otherwise.It is against this backdrop that the 2027 political space continues to be twisted with theatrical fallouts, Hi-Tech politicking with the labyrinths of intrigues, precipitating the hitting up of the polity.
Sadly, this uncertainty has crept into one of the major opposition political parties the Allied People’s Movement ahead of the 2027 general election as a coalition of party stakeholders from the north geo-political zone are rooting for the Bauchi state born politician and development economist, Dr. Ibrahim Waziri, as their preferred presidential candidate,in total disregard to the political permutations of supporting the candidacy of a Southern and the incumbent governor of Oyo state, Seyi Makinde, setting the stage for a battle royale for the APM ticket.
It is reliably gathered that most of northern states Stakeholders’ are of the opinion that support for the Candidacy of Waziri will boost the party’s electoral votes and Support across the 19 northern states and the other geo-political zones come 2027. This permutation significantly boosts Waziri’s chances of securing the party’s nomination as it’s flagbearer
It is also believed that Waziri enjoys wider national acceptance and stronger political networks than other aspirants Makinde inclusive. Makinde’s support is restricted to Oyo and Osun states where’s he was initially pronounced as the APM presidential candidate by some group seen not to be representing the larger thinking of the party and it’s stakeholders.
Waziri is from Ningi Local Government Area of Bauchi State and played active roles during the aborted Third Republic politics as a stauch member of the then Democratic party of Nigeria, DPN and was the party’s Governorship candidate.
He was a serious voice in the historic 1993 Social Democratic Party, SDP, presidential primaries in Jos, which produced the late Chief MKO Abiola as the party’s flag bearer.
A thorough grassroots politician with decades of political experience and beyond politics, Waziri is one of the pioneers of indigenous computer and telecommunications businesses in Nigeria.
He studied Political Economy, Accounting, Software and Data Processing in the United States and holds a doctorate degree in Political Economy.
His public profile was further elevated recently following his installation as Sarkin Sullubawan Bauchi by the Emir of Bauchi, Alhaji Rilwanu Suleimanu Adamu.
According to the stakeholders support for Waziri was informed by what they described as his wealth of experience in governance, economic planning and national development, necessary ingredient needed for a visionary leadership to move Nigeria forward as well as tackling its numerous challenges.
And his electoral agenda focuses on strengthening national security, reducing poverty, promoting national unity and deepening democratic accountability.
The endorsement is expected to reshape the internal dynamics of the APM as consultations and political alignments Ahead of the support,analysts believe that the endorsement of Waziri is the beginning of strategic positioning that could define the APM’s electoral preparations and value to upstage the ruling APC and will negatively affect the various APM candidates in Oyo state and the South-west geo-political zone and bringing to a calamitous end the presidential ambition of Gov Seyi Makinde.
