RismadarVoice Reporters
September 8, 2026
Oyo State Governor and presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples’ Movement (APM), Seyi Makinde, has said those dismissing his 2027 presidential ambition may be underestimating the millions of Nigerians whose votes will ultimately determine the outcome of the election.
Mr Makinde spoke in Abuja on Sunday while commissioning the APM presidential campaign headquarters, where he unveiled the party’s “Reset Nigeria” campaign focused on transparency, accountability and ensuring that public resources improve the lives of citizens.
The governor also clarified his position on petrol pricing, insisting that he was not advocating a return to the former fuel subsidy regime.
Instead, he said Nigerians should benefit more from domestically produced crude oil by ensuring that crude supplied to local refineries reflects the fact that the country is an oil-producing nation.
“So why should crude oil supplied to Nigerian refineries be priced as though Nigeria does not produce crude oil?” Mr Makinde asked.
He called for greater transparency across the petroleum value chain, including crude production, domestic allocation, refining, transportation, distribution, taxation and retail margins.
According to him, Nigerians should understand how the final price of petrol is determined.
Mr Makinde said the principle of transparency should also apply to the government’s broader management of public resources.
“It means that government must show its workings. It means that Nigerians must know how decisions are made, how public resources are used and who benefits from them,” he said.
He said the campaign would engage Nigerians across different sectors, including traders, farmers, workers, business owners and young people, whose everyday experiences provide a clear measure of government policies.
Recalling his first bid for the Oyo governorship, Mr Makinde said many people had dismissed his chances of winning.
“They may discount one candidate. But they cannot discount millions of Nigerians united behind a better future,” he said.
He urged Nigerians to participate actively in the campaign by questioning policies, offering ideas and organising within their communities.
“We count. Our voices count. Our experiences count. Our ideas count. And, together, our votes will count,” he said.
Former Anambra State governor and presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, who attended the event, said Mr Makinde was qualified to seek the presidency.
Mr Obi said Nigerians should be allowed to freely choose their preferred leaders, stressing that political competition should focus on addressing the country’s challenges.
“Yes, Seyi Makinde is qualified to contest for President. What we are doing today is to show you that, for us, we don’t have desperation. We want the people of Nigeria to make their choice,” he said.
He called for political competition centred on improving the welfare of Nigerians rather than promoting division.
“Let our quarrel be to feed our people. Let our quarrel be to pull our people out of poverty,” Mr Obi said.
APM vice-presidential candidate, Lawal Daura, urged voters to distinguish between candidates who meet the legal requirements to contest an election and those capable of winning.
“There are candidates that may be eligible, but they are not electable. I want Nigerians to be able to distinguish that,” Mr Daura said.
He also called on opposition parties to focus their campaigns on issues rather than attacking one another.
According to him, opposition cooperation should be aimed at building what he described as a “qualitative opposition” capable of benefiting Nigerians.
“We are all together. We want to provide a very qualitative opposition. And that qualitative opposition is supposed to be beneficial to all Nigerians,” he said.
Bala Mohammed warns against dismissing APM
APM National Leader and Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, said the commissioning of the campaign headquarters demonstrated the party’s readiness for the 2027 election.
“Whoever disregards us is doing it at his own peril,” Mr Mohammed warned.
He praised Mr Makinde’s record in Oyo State, as well as his private-sector and oil and gas experience, saying the combination positioned him to lead efforts to “reset” Nigeria.
Mr Mohammed also urged party members to remain loyal to the APM and uphold the supremacy of the party while prioritising national interest.
The APM National Chairman, Yusuf Mamman Dantalle, described the commissioning as the formal commencement of the party’s “Reset Nigeria” campaign ahead of the 2027 election.
Mr Dantalle said the campaign headquarters would serve as the operational base for the party’s presidential campaign.
He said the turnout at the event reflected what he described as Nigerians’ demand for competence, courage, compassion and accountability in governance.
According to him, the campaign would focus on solutions rather than political bitterness, while presenting the combination of Mr Makinde’s administrative experience and Mr Daura’s security background as complementary strengths.
“On a rescue mission, there is no time for frivolities. Citizens are tired and weary of politics of bitterness, division and hatred that impedes the nation’s democracy,” Mr Dantalle said.