Oyo State Governor and presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Seyi Makinde, has picked former Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Lawal Daura, as his running mate for the 2027 presidential election.

Makinde unveiled Daura on Thursday at the APM national convention held at the Government House in Bauchi, according to a statement issued by Oyo State Commissioner for Information, Dotun Oyelade.

The governor said Daura was deliberately chosen because of his experience in the security sector and his capacity to contribute to addressing Nigeria’s growing security challenges.

Makinde also expressed confidence in his ability to tackle poverty and improve the living conditions of millions of Nigerians, which he said had worsened in recent years due to poorly implemented government policies.

The APM candidate pledged to work with like-minded political leaders to build a better Nigeria ahead of the 2027 elections.

Makinde had declared his presidential ambition on May 14 at a joint mega-rally of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and APM in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

He said his decision to contest was driven by the need to reset the country, stressing that the task was bigger than winning an election.

According to him, Nigerians deserve a genuine choice about the future of the country.

Daura served as DSS Director-General from July 2015 to August 2018 before his removal following a controversial DSS operation at the National Assembly complex.

He later emerged as the African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship aspirant in Katsina State.

However, Daura resigned from the ADC on Sunday and announced his decision to join the APM, citing alleged injustice and instability within the party.