The presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Seyi Makinde, has pledged to establish a transitional government of national unity if elected president in 2027, as he called for an end to what he described as nepotism, economic hardship and democratic decline in Nigeria.
Makinde made the pledge at the APM South-West Town Hall Meeting, where he presented his RESET Nigeria agenda as a roadmap for rebuilding the country’s economy, security architecture, infrastructure and democratic institutions.
He said the proposed administration would prioritise national development over sectional interests, insisting that Nigeria needed a government that worked for all citizens rather than a privileged few.
Makinde declared “The APM shall constitute a transitional government of national unity that will reset Nigeria for prosperity,” .
Addressing concerns about his decision to contest the presidency despite the South-West already having a presidential occupant, Makinde cited the 1999 election, when Olusegun Obasanjo and Olu Falae, both from the South-West, contested against each other.
He argued that presenting candidates from the same region should not prevent Nigerians from choosing their preferred leader, stressing that the country’s challenges required collective solutions rather than regional calculations.
The APM candidate also criticised what he described as a politics of entitlement and nepotism, rejecting the idea that public office or development projects should be determined by whose turn it is to govern.
“We do not want turn-by-turn nepotism,” he said, adding that Nigeria needed infrastructure capable of driving economic growth and creating opportunities for young people and women.
On the economy, Makinde advocated a shift from dependence on federal allocations to a productive economy capable of generating multiple revenue streams. He reiterated his position that government should tax prosperity rather than poverty, while calling for improvements in security to enable businesses to operate beyond restricted hours.
He also questioned the effectiveness of government spending and budget implementation at the federal level, contrasting it with his claim that budget performance in Oyo State had risen from between 28 and 30 per cent to more than 70 per cent under his administration.
Makinde further criticised the Federal Government’s handling of Nigeria LNG dividend payments, insisting that funds due to states and local governments should be remitted.
On democratic governance, he accused the ruling party of using its influence to weaken opposition parties, warning that a one-party system would undermine democratic competition and accountability.
He urged residents of the South-West to support the APM’s proposed political alternative, calling on eligible voters to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards and participate in the 2027 general election.
Earlier, APM National Leader and Bauchi State Governor, Senator Abdulkadir Bala Mohammed, described Makinde as a tested candidate with the capacity to address Nigeria’s development challenges, citing his record in Oyo State.
The party’s vice-presidential candidate, Lawal Daura, also expressed confidence in Makinde’s leadership, highlighting the need for a knowledge-driven approach to infrastructure, public services and national security.
APM National Chairman Yusuf Dantelle called on party members to remain united and vigilant, saying the party was determined to pursue its proposed national reset and reduce the hardship confronting Nigerians.
The South-West town hall meeting formed part of the party’s nationwide engagements to present its vision and mobilise support ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
