Oyo State Governor and presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement, Seyi Makinde, has stepped up preparations for the 2027 presidential election with the appointment of a campaign leadership team. The team will coordinate his nationwide political activities. Makinde appointed former Minister of State for Aviation, Felix Hassan Hyat, as Director-General of the National Campaign Management Committee of the Makinde/Daura Presidential Campaign Organisation.
The appointments were announced on Wednesday in a statement issued by Makinde’s Special Adviser on Media and Digital Communication, Anthony Ehilebo. Former Minister of Women Affairs, Hajia Inna Ciroma, was appointed Deputy Director-General, Administration, while Dr Anthony Aziegbemi was named Deputy Director-General, Operations. The campaign organisation said the appointments were intended to bring together individuals with experience in political strategy, administration and mobilisation.
Hyat, who previously served as Minister of State for Aviation and chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in Kaduna State, is expected to coordinate the national campaign structure. He will lead the campaign’s efforts to take the Reset Nigeria message to Nigerians and secure victory for the APM in the 2027 presidential election. The statement described the three senior appointments as part of efforts to strengthen the campaign’s organisation and nationwide engagement.
Makinde is expected to work with APM National Leader and Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, National Chairman Yusuf Mamman Dantalle and other party leaders in coordinating the presidential campaign. The campaign organisation has also created positions covering mobilisation, legal affairs, administration, communications, finance, security, women and youth coordination, monitoring and documentation.
Several other appointments have been made, including Alhaji Hamza Akuyam Koshe as Director of Contact and Mobilisation, Barrister Mark Jacob as Director of Legal and Compliance, and Dr Ade Adeagbo as Director of Administration and Strategy. Hon. Richard Ihediwa will serve as Director of Strategic Communications, while Alhaji Yusuf Ismaila Alkali was named Director of Finance.
APM chieftain Oluwaseun Adelore said the party had a strategy for the 2027 election and argued that the strategy could be strengthened if opposition parties united behind Makinde. Adelore described Makinde as a “sellable brand” and called on opposition parties to consider supporting the Oyo governor if they were serious about producing an alternative to the current administration.
Adelore recalled the doubts surrounding Makinde’s political experience before he became Oyo State governor, arguing that his political rise demonstrated that established expectations could be challenged. The APM believed its political strategy could produce another unexpected outcome in 2027, Adelore said, adding that Makinde has proven over time that he’s going to be a very passionate leader.
Key points
- Makinde appoints Felix Hassan Hyat as Director-General of his presidential campaign organisation
- The campaign organisation has created various positions to coordinate mobilisation, legal affairs, and administration
- APM chieftain Oluwaseun Adelore calls on opposition parties to consider supporting Makinde's candidacy
