The presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, has called for a departure from what he described as “turn-by-turn” leadership, unveiling his “Reset Nigeria” agenda focused on economic prosperity, security, education and inclusive governance ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Makinde made the call at the APM South-West town hall meeting in Akure, Ondo State, attended by party leaders and representatives from Lagos, Ogun, Ekiti, Osun and Ondo states.
He urged Nigerians to prioritise energy and capacity over age when choosing their next president, arguing that the country’s challenges required a leader capable of withstanding the rigours of office.
“Why are we making age an issue in this campaign? I will make energy an issue,” he said.
Defending his presidential ambition despite the South-West’s previous occupancy of the presidency, Makinde cited the 1999 election, when former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Chief Olu Falae, both from the region, contested for the presidency.
“Both were from the South-West, and heaven did not fall,” he said, adding that the region had the right to present candidates for Nigerians to choose from.
The governor also criticised the Federal Government’s budget management, questioning which national budget the administration was implementing and faulting the use of public funds to fly Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations from New York to Abuja to present the UN budget to the President.
Contrasting the situation with his administration’s record in Oyo State, Makinde said budget performance had increased from between 28 and 30 per cent before he assumed office to more than 70 per cent.
“For the past seven-plus years, budget performance in Oyo State has risen to over 70 per cent. It is not a one-year achievement. It is something we do year in, year out,” he said.
He said his Reset Nigeria agenda would focus on education, security, economic productivity and the sociopolitical environment, stressing that national development must benefit citizens across regions and social groups.
“We want a Nigeria that works for everybody, not a Nigeria that works for a very few,” he said.
Rejecting what he described as a system in which political leaders prioritise personal and regional interests, Makinde said Nigeria needed collective action to overcome its economic challenges.
“We say no to a turn-by-turn Nigeria, where somebody says, ‘It is my turn to run a nepotistic administration,’” he said.
He also called for an economy that creates opportunities beyond dependence on government allocations, urging policymakers to promote productivity rather than burden people living in poverty.
“Please, let the people be productive. When they are productive, they become prosperous. Don’t tax poverty,” he said.
On security, Makinde promised to work towards a security architecture that would allow businesses and other economic activities to operate without the restrictions imposed by insecurity.
“We will reset our security architecture so that our economy will not shut down at 8 p.m. We will expand our economy,” he said.
The governor also condemned what he described as attempts to weaken opposition political parties, insisting that multiparty democracy was essential to Nigeria’s political development.
“Stop using the back door to cause crises in opposition parties. There is no democracy if we have a one-party system,” he said.
The APM National Chairman, Yusuf Mamman Dantalle, called on Nigerians to unite in addressing economic hardship, insecurity and accountability, saying the country’s natural and human resources should translate into better living conditions.
“The message is very simple: Nigeria belongs to all of us, and we must come together to rescue our country,” Dantalle said.
He questioned why Nigerians continued to face rising prices, high living costs and declining purchasing power despite the country’s abundant resources.
The party chairman also expressed concern over insecurity, attacks on communities and threats to citizens’ safety, urging public institutions to be more responsive to the needs of Nigerians.
He said democracy must go beyond conducting elections to ensuring that voters’ choices were respected and elected representatives defended the interests of the people.
According to him, the campaign should not be about an individual, political party, religion or ethnic group, but about building a country where citizens could live in peace, enjoy economic opportunities and have confidence in public institutions.
“Nobody will fix Nigeria for us unless we collectively decide to fix it ourselves,” he said.
Dantalle urged Nigerians to take responsibility for the country’s future and support efforts to build a nation that future generations would be proud to inherit.
The APM vice-presidential candidate, Alhaji Lawal Musa Daura, described the turnout at the South-West meeting as encouraging but urged party members to sustain their mobilisation efforts.
Daura said the party’s mission went beyond rescuing Nigeria from its present challenges to rebuilding the country and restoring public confidence in government.
He urged members to remain united, disciplined and vigilant against attempts to disrupt the party’s activities, adding that the campaign was determined to pursue its objectives within the law.
According to him, the party would work towards reducing economic hardship, easing citizens’ suffering and restoring their confidence in government.
Daura said the party intended to begin implementing its plans from May 29, 2027, if elected, adding that preparations were already underway.
Also speaking, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed called on party members to remain committed to the APM’s mission of national renewal.
He described members’ participation in the party as a demonstration of their commitment to Nigeria and urged them to remain focused on the campaign’s objectives.
Mohammed also cautioned members against distractions, alleging that some individuals were attempting to infiltrate the party and disrupt its activities. He said the party would take lawful steps to address any such conduct.
He described the South-West town hall meeting as encouraging and called for more grassroots engagement ahead of the election.
Hajia Maryam Inna Ciroma also urged Nigerians, particularly members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to support the APM, arguing that the country needed leadership focused on democratic participation, inclusiveness and national development.
She praised Makinde’s commitment to gender inclusion and called on Nigerians to unite in protecting democratic institutions.
The speakers urged party members to take the Reset Nigeria message to communities across the country and intensify mobilisation ahead of the 2027 general election.
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