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| Seyi Makinde, Oyo State governor and Allied Peoples Movement presidential candidate. |
Seyi Makinde, the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) presidential candidate, has urged Nigerians to accept money offered during election campaigns without allowing it to determine their votes in the 2027 general election.
The Oyo State governor delivered the message on Saturday, 7 November, at the party’s presidential campaign launch in Bauchi, where he sought support for changes to Nigeria’s economy, security arrangements and system of governance.
“Don’t bother at all when they bring money, it is your money. Collect it, spend it, but vote your heart. And I know your heart is with us and with APM,” he told supporters.
Makinde identified hunger as the country’s most pressing problem and said his proposed Reset Agenda would address the conditions leaving Nigerians unable to meet their needs.
He also questioned the effectiveness of existing security arrangements and criticised the exclusion of citizens from decisions affecting their lives. His campaign, he said, would seek changes across those areas rather than treat them as separate problems.
“Our people are hungry. Because we’re hungry, should we reset the economy? Because there is insecurity, should we reset the security architecture? Because the majority of our people are not allowed to participate, should we reset the socio-political environment in Nigeria?” he asked.
The governor appealed to voters dissatisfied with government conduct to support his candidacy, arguing that public office required greater openness, honesty and participation.
“If you are not happy with the way things are in our country today, if you’re not happy that there’s not enough inclusivity, if you’re not happy that your government cannot tell you the truth, they cannot handle our issues with sincerity, then there’s only one path for us. And the path is to reset Nigeria,” he said.
At the same event, APM National Chairman Yusuf Dantalle outlined the party’s plans to increase women’s involvement in political leadership. He expressed concern about their limited representation in the National Assembly and other institutions where public decisions are made.
Dantalle said the party had created a women’s directorate and engaged the National Assembly Joint Committee considering the proposal for special legislative seats for women.
He commended Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu for promoting the proposal but said it had not secured the legislative backing required. He also invited Nigerians to examine the APM’s policies, saying its leaders would answer difficult questions about their commitments.
The party’s vice-presidential candidate, Lawal Daura, addressed accountability in public office, blaming deceit and hypocrisy for weakening democratic practice.
Daura said the Reset Agenda would require those serving in an APM administration to act honestly and pursue an agreed programme for national development. He also promised opportunities for Nigerians of different backgrounds to participate in government.
Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, the APM’s national leader, endorsed Makinde but asked him to ensure that electoral support translated into fair treatment for Bauchi and the wider North-East.
Mohammed said his assessment of Makinde’s administration in Oyo informed his support for the presidential candidate. He argued that the governor had the experience to manage Nigeria’s diversity and lead the country.
Explaining their political realignment, Mohammed said he and Makinde had left the Peoples Democratic Party after experiencing what he described as injustice. The APM, he said, offered them a platform to pursue their political objectives.
He supported Makinde’s proposal for a government of national unity, saying such an arrangement should address political exclusion, tribalism and religious intolerance.
However, he warned against concentrating appointments in any ethnic group and urged the presidential candidate to combine merit with the federal character principle.
“There are over 100,000 positions to be filled, but they must not be occupied by one ethnic group alone or skewed in favour of one tribe,” he said.
Mohammed argued that selecting qualified officials and ensuring equitable representation should guide recruitment into public office. He said Bauchi and other parts of the North-East expected justice and access to federal opportunities under any administration they helped elect.
“We are even tired of being in the opposition. We have lost a lot. I know how much I suffered as the leader of the opposition. I do not want to come into government only to be marginalised and pushed aside again,” he said.
The governor also raised Bauchi’s financial difficulties, saying the state needed greater support to meet its obligations, including workers’ salaries.