I’ll Spend One Term If Elected President, Says Makinde

The presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Engr Seyi Makinde, has pledged to run a four-year transitional government of national unity if elected president in the 2027 general election.

Makinde made the pledge at the APM North-East 2027 Town Hall Meeting in Yola, Adamawa State, where he outlined his plans to address Nigeria’s economic challenges, insecurity, electricity crisis and concerns over national inclusivity.

He said his administration would not remain in office beyond four years and would ensure that governance reflects the interests of Nigerians across the country.

“I stand before you today to tell you that the government you will put in place from 29 May 2027, will be a transitional government of national unity. Our government will not last beyond four years. And it will be an all-inclusive government,” Makinde said.

The APM candidate said his proposed administration would prioritise honesty, public accountability and inclusive governance, promising to listen to citizens and pursue practical solutions to the country’s challenges.

“My promise to you, the North-East and the people of Nigeria is this: we will be sincere in finding solutions to the challenges that we are faced with.

We will not play politics. We will not undermine your rights.

We will ensure that we tell you the exact truth. We will listen to you. Solutions can come from anywhere,” he said.

Makinde also criticised the current administration over its failure to deliver on key promises, particularly in the power sector, recalling President Bola Tinubu’s pledge to fix electricity within four years.

He said Nigerians had witnessed the failure of several government policies, including the presidential initiative on compressed natural gas (CNG) and electric vehicles, as well as the naira-for-crude arrangement.

According to him, the Federal Government should make its petroleum pricing template public to enable Nigerians to understand how fuel prices are determined and contribute ideas towards finding lasting solutions.

“We are asking for only two things. We do not want too much grammar; we just want relief for Nigerians. So, we ask the Federal Government to release its pricing template so that citizens will know how they arrived at the current petroleum price,” Makinde said.

He argued that occupying public office did not make government officials the only people capable of developing solutions to national problems, insisting that citizens with relevant knowledge and expertise should be allowed to contribute.

“The fact that you are in government or the Presidential Villa does not make you the only Nigerian with sense. We have other citizens who can dissect issues and proffer solutions,” he added.

The Oyo State governor said the 2027 election should mark a departure from what he described as the politics of falsehood and deception, calling for a national reset anchored on truth and accountability.

“I want to say to you that 2027 will mark the end of the politics of lies and deceit. It is a time when we will all come together to establish a reset agenda and tell Nigerians the whole truth,” he said.

Makinde explained that the delay in releasing the party’s manifesto was deliberate, saying the party wanted to obtain input from stakeholders across the country before finalising its policy direction.

He also addressed concerns about the concentration of political power in one part of the country, promising an inclusive administration that would provide opportunities for Nigerians from all regions.

Earlier, the APM national leader and Bauchi State governor, Bala Mohammed, described the party as a force to be reckoned with ahead of the 2027 elections, citing its governors, elected officials, and growing membership.

“We welcome you to the North-East, and of course, we appreciate the party. We are ready to listen to you and contribute our quota to your aspiration,” Mohammed said.

He expressed support for Makinde’s ambition, noting that the party believed in national unity, mutual respect and equal opportunities for citizens from all sections of the country.

The party’s vice-presidential candidate, Lawal Daura, also said Nigeria needed a fundamental reset, describing the APM as a platform for honest and patriotic Nigerians committed to addressing the country’s challenges.

“Now, the situation in Nigeria, as you must have heard before and as you are likely to subsequently hear and know the details, is that Nigeria needs to reset. Otherwise, we will remain in motion but without movement. And we are here to set such things right,” Daura said.

He added that the task of resetting the country would require serious-minded Nigerians committed to working for the common good.

The town hall meeting was part of the APM’s stakeholder engagements ahead of the 2027 general election, with the party seeking input from different regions as it prepares to unveil its manifesto.