Published by Osasere Edomwonyi Ikpoba
Oyo State Governor and presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Seyi Makinde, has declared that his 2027 presidential campaign will be defined by unprecedented nationwide engagement, vowing to traverse the length and breadth of Nigeria to present his vision directly to citizens and hear their struggles firsthand. Speaking on Saturday shortly after he was conferred with the chieftaincy title of Aare Asoludero of Ibarapaland at the newly commissioned palace of the Eleruwa of Eruwa in Oyo State, Makinde said his aspiration to lead Nigeria would not be confined to any particular region.
The governor, who is seeking the presidency on the platform of the APM amid an emerging political realignment ahead of the 2027 elections, emphasised that his ambition would require extensive engagement with citizens in all parts of the country. "My aspiration to lead Nigeria will not be confined to any particular region. I am prepared to take my message of good governance and development to Nigerians across the country," Makinde said. He added: "This ambition will require me to engage extensively with the people and present my vision for a better Nigeria to citizens in different parts of the country".
Makinde's promise of nationwide engagement is central to the "Reset Agenda", his manifesto which he said is currently undergoing stakeholders' review. The agenda, he explained, would focus on critical national challenges, including security, the economy, the cost-of-living crisis, and food security. But the governor stressed that the document would be different from conventional campaign manifestos often filled with broad promises without sufficient explanation of how they would be achieved. "As we develop and present these plans, we will show not only what we intend to do but how we intend to do it, how it will be funded and the outcomes Nigerians should expect," Makinde said.
Makinde made it clear that his campaign would not be about slogans or political entertainment. In his latest newsletter, he declared: "For me, this campaign will be about putting Nigerians first". He said the central message would be the need to "reset our country so that it works for all Nigerians, not just a select few". Over the coming months, he said he would travel across the six geopolitical zones to engage stakeholders, stressing that the engagements would be designed not only to allow him to present his ideas but also to listen to Nigerians. "I want to hear directly from Nigerians: workers whose incomes no longer meet their basic needs; business owners struggling to remain open; farmers concerned about security, production and access to markets; young people seeking opportunities to build meaningful lives; and families who want to feel safe in their homes and communities," he said.
Makinde also challenged Nigerians to subject all presidential contenders in the 2027 election to rigorous scrutiny, insisting that the contest must be decided by proven records, workable ideas, and capacity to deliver rather than slogans, personalities, or political entertainment. "Campaigns should be about more than slogans, personalities and promises. Nigerians must be able to examine every candidate's record, ideas and capacity to deliver," he said. He urged voters to interrogate the records of aspirants who had previously occupied public positions and assess whether they had delivered tangible results when entrusted with responsibility. "They must be able to ask: What has this person done with the responsibilities previously entrusted to them? What measurable difference did their leadership make? And can their proposed solutions address the realities we face?" he asked.
The governor cited the recent Osun State governorship election as evidence of the power of citizens' participation in the democratic process. He noted that more than one million votes were cast in the election, representing an increase of over 180,000 votes compared with the 2022 election, adding that the winner emerged with a clear margin despite reported imperfections in the electoral process. "It also carries an important lesson for 2027: no political structure is more powerful than citizens who understand the significance of their participation and are determined to make their voices heard," Makinde said. He therefore urged Nigerians who believe in the country's potential to actively participate in the political process ahead of the 2027 elections. "Whether you join a campaign, attend a town hall, interrogate our proposals or encourage others to participate, do not remain a spectator," he said.
The governor also cautioned Nigerians against allowing the election to be reduced to ethnic or religious sentiments, urging voters to listen carefully, ask difficult questions, and scrutinise the programmes and records of candidates. "Listen carefully, ask difficult questions and reject attempts to reduce this election to ethnicity, religion or political entertainment," he warned.
Makinde's declaration comes amid growing political realignment ahead of the 2027 elections. He formally joined the presidential race on May 14, 2026, under an alliance involving the Peoples Democratic Party and the APM. He has since appointed Anthony Ehilebo as his Special Adviser on Media and Digital Communication. The APM has described Makinde as the rallying point for Nigerians seeking a new Nigeria. However, the governor faces significant challenges, including internal opposition within the PDP and criticism from the All Progressives Congress in Oyo State, which has dismissed his presidential ambition. The FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, has also rejected the PDP-APM alliance, describing the ambition as "dead on arrival".
At the Eruwa ceremony, Makinde thanked the Eleruwa of Eruwa, Oba Samuel Adegbola, and the people of Ibarapaland for the honour, describing it as a recognition that comes with responsibility. He pledged to continue upholding the values of service, unity, and development. However, he also urged traditional rulers in the state to remain apolitical, warning that any monarch who interferes in politics or political matters would be treated as a politician.
As the 2027 presidential election approaches, Makinde's promise of nationwide engagement and his call for citizens to actively participate in the political process signal a campaign strategy focused on grassroots mobilisation and direct citizen engagement. Whether this approach will resonate with Nigerians and translate into electoral success remains to be seen. But for now, the Oyo State governor has made his intentions clear: he will take his message to every corner of Nigeria, and he wants to hear from every Nigerian.
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