Six South-South state chairmen of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) have passed a vote of no confidence in the party’s presidential candidate, Seyi Makinde, over campaign appointments ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The chairmen announced their decision on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, and declared a boycott of the South-South presidential town hall meeting, accusing Makinde of sidelining established party executives.
The signatories were Dagodog Whyte of Rivers, Peace Osarama of Bayelsa, Utuku Abangaye Edet of Akwa Ibom, Ugoigwe Onyeka Ogechukwu of Edo, Prince Henry Ese of Delta and Ntami Nkanu Esage of Cross River states.
They said their decision followed consultations with governorship, National Assembly and State House of Assembly candidates in the zone.
The chairmen alleged that Makinde appointed campaign coordinators who were not registered APM members. They also accused him of dishonesty, financial impropriety and incompetence, claims that had not been independently established.
They reaffirmed their confidence in the National Working Committee, led by National Chairman Yusuf Mamman Dantalle, and expressed support for Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, whom they described as the party’s national leader. However, they deferred a final decision on their support for Makinde’s presidential bid.
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The dispute follows a similar protest in the South-East. On October 18, chairmen from Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo states opposed appointments to the Makinde/Daura Presidential Campaign Council, arguing that the arrangements undermined recognised state executives.
In a communiqué presented in Abuja, Enugu State Chairman Ken Ikeh said the five chairmen wanted the disputed state appointments cancelled and campaign vehicles, publicity materials and other mobilisation resources transferred to state executives.
They warned that unresolved grievances could affect their participation in the campaign structure but maintained their support for Makinde.
The disagreements followed the announcement on October 1, 2026, of six zonal coordinators to oversee campaign mobilisation nationwide.
The widening dispute has placed campaign appointments and the authority of state executives at the centre of tensions within the APM ahead of the 2027 elections.
Makinde’s response to the South-South chairmen’s allegations was not available at the time of publication.