Araba Rufus Aiyenigba, the National Publicity Secretary of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), has congratulated Allied People’s Movement (APM) National Chairman Mamman Yusuf Dantalle on his 55th birthday. He described him as a leader who puts national interest above personal gain.
Dantalle also chairs the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), a body of Nigeria’s registered political parties.
Aiyenigba, who is also the SDP’s 2027 senatorial candidate for Kogi West, issued the message in a statement.
“He is a proud emblem of his generation,” Aiyenigba said of Dantalle. He credited him with qualities including humility, a pro-people ideology and a broad network that crosses religious, ethnic and party lines. Aiyenigba also described him as a successful farmer and entrepreneur and a mentor to many young Nigerians in the North and South.
Aiyenigba attributed Dantalle’s rise from state-level politics to national influence to consistency, resilience and courage of conviction.
He said Dantalle’s “political dexterity” had helped build the APM into a frontline opposition party. He said its members now include two serving governors, Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State and Seyi Makinde, whom he described as the party’s 2027 presidential candidate. The statement did not say when the two joined the party, and the APM did not immediately comment on Aiyenigba’s account.
Aiyenigba said the two men met during the 2015 Kogi State governorship election. He said Philips Omeiza Salawu, a former deputy governor under the late Gov. Ibrahim Idris, ran as the Labour Party candidate and chose Dantalle as his running mate. Aiyenigba said he served as chief of staff of Salawu’s campaign. He described the campaign as unsuccessful and said he and Dantalle had stayed in touch since, as political allies from the same home state.
Both men are from Kogi State. Aiyenigba said Dantalle is a source of pride to the Igala Kingdom and to Kogi.
