Oyo State Governor and Allied Peoples Movement (APM) presidential candidate, Seyi Makinde, has expressed confidence in winning the 2027 presidential election while urging citizens to reject “turn-by-turn nepotism” and regional entitlements in selecting the nation’s next leader. ​
Speaking to party supporters and stakeholders at the APM South-West Town Hall meeting held on Thursday, October 22, 2026, at The Dome event centre in Akure, Ondo State, Makinde challenged the political tradition of relying on regional rotation and identity-driven rhetoric.
He reiterated his stance during the official unveiling of the party’s presidential manifesto on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, at the International Conference Centre in Abuja. ​Addressing attendees alongside key party leaders, including APM National Chairman Yusuf Mamman Dantalle and policy strategist Aisha Yesufu Ibrahim, Makinde insisted that Nigeria requires leadership grounded in competence, institutional accountability, and practical ideas rather than regional entitlement. ​
Drawing a historical parallel to the 1999 presidential election, Makinde noted that the South-West region previously presented two prominent candidates, Olusegun Obasanjo and Olu Falae, giving Nigerians a genuine choice rather than a single regional claim. He warned that viewing the presidency as an ethnic or zonal entitlement leads to sectional governance and abandoned national development initiatives.
​The candidate outlined the core pillars of his platform, named the “Reset Nigeria” agenda, which prioritises economic restructuring, modern security systems, vocational youth training, and governance reforms. On fiscal policy, he advocated shifting government focus toward wealth creation before taxation, arguing that authorities must stimulate productivity and tax prosperity rather than impoverish citizens through premature levies. ​
Reaffirming the party’s election readiness, APM National Chairman Yusuf Mamman Dantalle stated that the party’s nationwide consultations demonstrate a transparent platform designed to address national challenges beyond partisan and sectional lines.
