Reported by Ariajegbe Sylvia Esezobor
The presidential campaign team of Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and his running mate, Lawal Daura, has unveiled plans to hold town hall meetings across Nigeria's six geopolitical zones, in what the Allied Peoples Movement describes as an unprecedented nationwide engagement effort ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The campaign strategy, announced by the APM in Abuja, will see Makinde and Daura travel to all six zones to engage directly with stakeholders, present their policy proposals and, according to the campaign, listen to the concerns of ordinary Nigerians. The party has established a presidential campaign office in Abuja to coordinate the nationwide effort, with the Makinde-Daura ticket at the centre of its mobilisation.
At the heart of the campaign is the "Reset Agenda," which Makinde has described as the fulcrum of his presidential ambition. The manifesto, currently undergoing stakeholders' review, will focus on security, the economy, the cost-of-living crisis and food security, among other priorities. Makinde has stressed that the document will differ from conventional campaign manifestos by explaining not only what the campaign intends to do but how it will be done, how it will be funded and what outcomes Nigerians should expect. "For me, this campaign will be about putting Nigerians first. Our central message to Nigerians is that we have to reset our country so that it works for all Nigerians, not just a select few," Makinde said.
The town hall meetings are central to that strategy. Makinde has said the engagements will 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. The governor has also challenged Nigerians to subject all presidential contenders 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.
Makinde's running mate, Lawal Daura, a former Director-General of the Department of State Services, brings a security-focused dimension to the ticket. Daura has said he and Makinde share the same passion for Nigeria and are committed to "resetting" the country. He has also rallied Nigerians against President Bola Tinubu, saying the administration has committed errors and should be voted out in 2027, while describing Makinde as the bridge between the old and younger generations. Daura's selection is presented by the APM as a combination of Makinde's governance experience and Daura's background in national security.
The campaign's grassroots mobilisation is already underway. In Lagos, the Progressive Youths for Makinde's Presidency 2027 launched the Reset Agenda Training Programme, where volunteers, support groups and political stakeholders gathered to sharpen their mobilisation and organisational skills. The emerging "MAD Resetter" movement, as supporters describe themselves, is designed to take the campaign's message beyond political meetings and into communities and constituencies. "The 2027 election will provide Nigerians with an opportunity to choose a new direction for the country and embrace a leadership agenda centred on development, accountability, economic opportunity and a better quality of life," said Martins James, Director of the campaign's media team.
The campaign's policy direction includes measures around economic growth, employment, agriculture, healthcare and national security, alongside calls for greater devolution of powers to the states. The APM has said its campaign will be driven by issues affecting Nigerians and will present practical solutions to the country's economic and social challenges, banking on Makinde's record in Oyo State as part of its argument for national support.
The unveiling of the campaign strategy has not been without controversy. Critics of the governor have accused him of abandoning governance in Oyo State to pursue what they describe as a "dead-on-arrival" presidential ambition. Elder David Oluokun, an APC chieftain in the state, has criticised Makinde over his political activities outside Oyo State, alleging that the governor is set to abandon governance to embark on a "jamboree" of town hall meetings. The campaign has dismissed such criticism, framing the nationwide engagement as essential to presenting a credible alternative to the ruling APC.
The APM's campaign is unfolding amid a broader political realignment ahead of the 2027 elections. The party has opened its national campaign headquarters in Abuja and has said it intends to strengthen its structures at the grassroots while expanding its political alliances. For Makinde and Daura, the town hall meetings represent the core of their strategy to build name recognition and support across a country where the presidential race is expected to be dominated by the APC, the African Democratic Congress and the Nigeria Democratic Congress. Whether the Reset Agenda resonates with voters across the six zones will determine whether the APM's candidate can translate his record in Oyo State into a credible national campaign. For now, the message from the Makinde-Daura camp is clear: they are taking their case directly to the people, one zone at a time.
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