Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde
The Allied People’s Movement (APM) has declared that its 2027 presidential candidate, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, has the capacity to reset Nigeria within four years through people-focused reforms and inclusive leadership.
The party’s governorship candidate in Lagos State, Laja Adeoye, stated this during a television programme on Sunday in Lagos.
He said the party believes a single four-year term is enough to make meaningful progress in key sectors, including infrastructure, the economy, education, healthcare and social services.
According to him, Makinde’s proposal for a single six-year presidential tenure also supports the principle of power rotation between the North and the South and would strengthen national unity.
“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,” Adeoye said.
Speaking on the economy, he explained that Makinde was not advocating a return to the fuel subsidy regime but wanted Nigerians to benefit more from the country’s 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.
Adeoye added that the party’s manifesto, expected to be released soon, would clearly explain its plans for the economy, oil sector and governance, while giving Nigerians the opportunity to hold the party accountable.
He also praised Makinde’s handling of the abduction of schoolchildren in Oyo State, saying the governor worked closely with security agencies by providing leadership, logistics and support until the victims were rescued.
Rejecting claims that Makinde joined the presidential race to reduce President Bola Tinubu’s votes in the South-West, Adeoye insisted the governor was contesting because he believed he could win the election.
“Today, among the presidential candidates, he is actively travelling across the country, holding town hall meetings and engaging directly with Nigerians. He is moving across the six geopolitical zones, listening to the people, understanding their concerns and allowing them to participate in the political process. Someone who is not serious about winning an election would not undertake this level of engagement,” he said.
Turning to Lagos, Adeoye promised that an APM-led government would prioritise housing, food security, education, infrastructure and environmental sanitation while working to improve students’ performance in WAEC and NECO examinations.
He added that the party would also seek constitutional recognition for Lagos State’s Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs), saying the move would bring governance closer to the people, improve service delivery and support economic development.
