2027: Makinde Will Reset Nigeria in 4 Years, Give South Better Representation — APM

The Allied People’s Movement (APM) says its 2027 presidential candidate, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, has the capacity to reset Nigeria within four years through improved governance, economic reforms and better public services.

Laja Adeoye, the party’s Lagos State governorship candidate, made the declaration during a television programme monitored by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Lagos.

Adeoye said Makinde’s proposed four-year administration would focus on infrastructure, the economy, education, healthcare and social services.

He said the party also supports Makinde’s proposal for a single six-year presidential term, describing it as consistent with Nigeria’s unwritten principle of power rotation between the North and the South.

“We believe in the unwritten principle of rotational presidency between the North and the South. The current President, Bola Tinubu, is from the South-West and is therefore regarded as representing the South in the current rotation. However, many people in the South expected stronger representation and greater benefits from the current administration. What we are seeing today is not what we expected from a government that is supposed to represent the interests of our region. That is why Makinde is telling Nigerians that, under his leadership, Nigeria can be reset within four years. We believe that four years should be sufficient to make significant and lasting improvements in the country,” he said.

Speaking on fuel pricing, Adeoye said Makinde was not proposing a return to fuel subsidy but wanted Nigerians to enjoy greater benefits from the country’s crude oil resources.

“His argument is that Nigeria owns its crude oil resources and should ensure that Nigerians benefit from those resources before they are sold on the international market. If crude oil is produced in Nigeria, Nigerians should not have to buy petroleum products as though the crude has travelled around the world before returning to the country. The Nigerian people should benefit from the resources extracted from their own soil, that is the fundamental principle behind his position on fuel pricing,” he said.

He added that the APM manifesto, expected to be released soon, would explain how the party plans to improve the management of Nigeria’s oil resources and make government more accountable.

Adeoye also praised Makinde’s handling of the kidnapping of schoolchildren in Oyo State, saying the governor worked closely with security agencies until the victims regained their freedom.

“During that period, I had the opportunity to engage with him personally. I saw how emotionally affected he was by the incident and how seriously he treated the situation. He convened meetings with the state security apparatus, received direct reports, deployed resources and provided logistics to security agencies involved in the operation. Nigerians saw many of these efforts, and they know the role he played in the eventual release of the children,” he said.

He dismissed claims that Makinde joined the presidential race to weaken President Bola Tinubu’s support in the South-West, insisting the governor was contesting to win.

Adeoye said Makinde had continued to travel across the six geopolitical zones, holding town hall meetings and engaging directly with Nigerians as part of his nationwide campaign.

He also unveiled APM’s plans for Lagos, promising improvements in housing, food security, education, infrastructure and environmental management if elected governor in 2027.

As part of the party’s education agenda, he said the administration aims to place Lagos among Nigeria’s top three states in WAEC and NECO performance while pursuing constitutional recognition of the state’s Local Council Development Areas to deepen grassroots development.