By Political Desk |
Oyo State Governor and presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Seyi Makinde, has intensified his campaign for the 2027 presidential election, urging Nigerians to embrace his proposed Reset Nigeria Agenda amid growing public concerns over economic hardship, insecurity and the cost of living.
Makinde made the appeal on Thursday, October 22, during an APM town hall meeting in Akure, Ondo State, where he called on Nigerians to consider allowing him to complete what he described as the remaining four years of the South-West’s expected eight-year presidential tenure.
His appeal comes as President Bola Tinubu, who is also from the South-West, seeks a second term in office in the 2027 general election.
Makinde argued that Nigerians would ultimately decide whether the region should retain the presidency for another four years.
“The rest of Nigeria will choose between if the South-West should complete its eight years. And if the answer is yes, allow Seyi to complete the remaining four years through a transitional government of national unity,” he said.
‘Everybody Is Hungry’ — Makinde Urges Door-to-Door Campaign
The APM presidential candidate urged party members across the South-West to intensify grassroots mobilisation, insisting that direct engagement with voters would be more effective than relying on campaign posters and billboards.
Makinde advised party supporters to visit communities and households, distribute campaign leaflets and explain the party’s policy proposals to residents ahead of the election.
He expressed confidence that the campaign would receive a favourable response, arguing that the economic difficulties facing many Nigerians had strengthened public demand for a different approach to governance.
“What I want from the South-West, go door-to-door, go to every area, and it’s not an issue that somebody did billboards or they did posters. Take your fliers and go door-to-door, you will be well received because everybody is hungry,” Makinde said.
He added that the party’s message should focus on persuading voters to support its proposed reforms.
“Nigerians want a reset, so go and meet them, they will receive you, convert them and explain the Reset Agenda to them,” he said.
What Is Makinde’s Reset Nigeria Agenda?
Makinde has presented the Reset Nigeria Agenda as a proposed programme to address the country’s economic, educational, security and governance challenges if he wins the 2027 presidential election.
In previous campaign engagements, he has pledged to restructure the economy using data, science and evidence-based policies, develop a new security architecture, improve education and create conditions for sustainable economic growth.
At an APM town hall meeting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, earlier in the week, Makinde also promised tax incentives for businesses, measures to reduce poverty and initiatives to address militancy in the Niger Delta.
He has argued that government alone cannot generate the employment and economic expansion Nigeria needs, and that private-sector investment and entrepreneurship should play a central role in national development.
Makinde has further promised to pursue his proposed reforms within a single four-year presidential term through a transitional government of national unity.
However, these remain campaign pledges whose implementation would depend on his election, the policies adopted by his administration and the practical and institutional challenges of governing the country.
Makinde’s Jump Sparks Debate Over Presidential Fitness
Makinde’s campaign has also drawn attention to the question of physical stamina and the qualities Nigerians should prioritise when choosing their next president.
The governor jumped off a stage at a campaign gathering and subsequently challenged rival presidential contenders to demonstrate their physical fitness ahead of the 2027 election.
The gesture added a new dimension to the campaign debate, with questions emerging over whether physical energy should be considered a significant measure of presidential readiness.
‘Presidency Is Not About High Jump’ — Momodu Replies
Meanwhile, Dele Momodu, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has pushed back against the emphasis on physical fitness, arguing that the presidency requires far more than athletic ability.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday, Momodu said the responsibilities of the office demanded intellectual capacity, experience, vision, tolerance and the ability to manage people and national resources.
“The job of a president is not to be a high jumper or long jumper. It is to think; it is to have clear vision; it is to have experience; it is to have exposure and be tolerant. Leadership is about managing people and resources,” he said.
Momodu maintained that Nigeria needed a president capable of making sound decisions, setting priorities and managing the country’s human and material resources effectively.
His response reframed the discussion around the leadership qualities required to address Nigeria’s complex economic, political and security challenges, rather than focusing primarily on a candidate’s physical strength or energy.
2027 Race: Economic Hardship and Leadership Under Scrutiny
The exchange between Makinde and Momodu highlights two competing themes likely to feature prominently in the build-up to the 2027 presidential election: the demand for a change in governance and the question of what qualities the next president must possess.
Makinde is positioning his Reset Nigeria Agenda as an alternative to the current administration’s approach, using economic hardship and public dissatisfaction as central themes of his campaign.
Momodu, meanwhile, has emphasised that effective leadership depends on vision, experience, sound judgment and the ability to manage national affairs.
With the 2027 election approaching, candidates will face growing pressure to demonstrate not only their capacity to lead but also the credibility, detail and feasibility of their proposed solutions to Nigeria’s challenges.
For voters, the central question will be whether the competing candidates can translate their promises into practical policies that improve living standards, strengthen security, create jobs and restore public confidence in government.