Precious Nwonu, Enugu
The presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Seyi Makinde, has called on voters in the South-East to look beyond ethnic and religious affiliations when choosing leaders ahead of the 2027 general election.
Makinde, who is also the governor of Oyo State, made the appeal during an APM South-East town hall meeting in Enugu, where he presented his party’s proposed agenda for addressing Nigeria’s economic and security challenges.
He acknowledged the strong political support enjoyed by former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi in the region but said his campaign would not be discouraged from seeking votes in the South-East.
Obi, who contested the 2023 presidential election under the Labour Party, is now the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
Makinde maintained that the problems confronting Nigerians cut across ethnic and religious boundaries, urging voters to support candidates based on their plans and capacity to address the country’s challenges.
He outlined four major components of his proposed agenda: economic recovery, restructuring of the security system, education reform and rebuilding the socio-political environment.
The APM candidate said his campaign had engaged Nigerians across the six geopolitical zones to understand their concerns and incorporate their expectations into the party’s manifesto.
He disclosed that the document would be finalised over the weekend and unveiled on November 4, 2026.
Makinde also identified the lack of trust between political leaders and citizens as one of the problems affecting governance, arguing that sincerity and accountability could help restore public confidence.
Using his experience in Oyo State as an example, he said his administration had worked to rebuild trust between the government and residents and promised to apply a similar approach at the national level if elected.
On the economy, Makinde pledged to move Nigeria away from dependence on the distribution of federal allocations towards a productive system driven by businesses, manufacturing and entrepreneurship.
He identified high interest rates and limited access to long-term financing as major obstacles to industrial growth, promising to address both challenges.
The governor also announced a partnership between his campaign and Skill Reset Nigeria to train one million young Nigerians in employable skills. He encouraged interested youths to register through the organisation’s website to participate in the programme.
His running mate, Lawal Daura, also called for urgent action against hunger, poverty and insecurity, warning that democracy could not function effectively where political activities were militarised and security issues became politicised.
Daura said the party was proposing a 16-point agenda aimed at addressing the country’s difficulties, adding that Nigerians needed leadership committed to improving their living conditions.
Meanwhile, the APM National Chairman, Yusuf Dantalle, appealed to President Bola Tinubu to withdraw from the 2027 presidential race and support Makinde’s candidacy.
Dantalle argued that Tinubu should allow Makinde to complete what he described as the remaining four years of the South’s turn in power.
He also attributed Nigeria’s insecurity to underlying socioeconomic problems, including poverty and unemployment, and called for improved electricity and transportation infrastructure to support economic development.
The meeting was attended by former Osun State Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Director-General of the Makinde-Daura Presidential Campaign Organisation, Felix Hassan Hyat, APM state chairmen and other party stakeholders.
APM Urges Tinubu To Reconsider 2027 Presidential Bid
In a related development, the Makinde-Daura Presidential Campaign Organisation has asked Tinubu to use his ongoing Umrah pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia to reflect on his administration’s performance and consider withdrawing from the 2027 presidential contest.
The organisation made the appeal in a statement issued on Thursday by its Director of Strategic Communications, Richard Ihediwa.
It urged the President to reflect on his campaign promises, the country’s security situation and the economic difficulties Nigerians have faced since he assumed office in May 2023.
The campaign organisation also questioned whether Tinubu deserved another term, citing concerns over rising hardship, hunger, insecurity and access to essential services.
It argued that public office should come with accountability and that the President should assess his administration’s record before seeking another mandate.
Tinubu departed Abuja for Makkah on Thursday to perform Umrah, the lesser Islamic pilgrimage.
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