…APM candidate says campaign spending, pollsters won’t determine election
…Unveils four-year ‘Reset Nigeria’ agenda in Lafia
By Seun Ibiyemi
The presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Seyi Makinde, has said the outcome of the 2027 presidential election will be determined by Nigerian voters rather than the financial strength of candidates, campaign spending or the number of billionaires backing them.
Makinde, who is also the Governor of Oyo State, stated this on Monday at the APM North-Central Zonal Town Hall Meeting in Lafia, Nasarawa State, as part of the party’s engagements ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The APM candidate, who is campaigning on his “Reset Nigeria” agenda, said neither political commentators nor opinion polls would determine the outcome of the election.
“This election, 2027 election, will not be determined by pundits and pollsters,” Makinde said.
“This election is not going to be determined by the number of billionaires you have in your corner, or how much billion you have to spend. This election will be determined by the people of Nigeria.”
Makinde also criticised the Federal Government’s economic policies, describing its approach as “voodoo economics.”
He acknowledged that state governments had received higher allocations from the Federation Account but questioned whether the increased revenue had translated into better living conditions for Nigerians.
According to him, Oyo State’s dependence on federal allocations fell from more than 80 per cent when he assumed office in 2019 to about 65 per cent in 2022, before rising again to almost 80 per cent following the removal of the petrol subsidy.
“They claim we have more money, that the state governors, the state government have been collecting more money from the Federation Account. I’m not arguing with that. Yes, the quantum of the money, yes, we have more money, but has it translated to fighting hunger in our society?” he asked.
“The answer is no,” he added.
On insecurity, the APM candidate questioned the planning and budgetary provisions for the Federal Government’s decision to establish additional Army divisions.
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Makinde said he reviewed the 2026 budget in search of provisions relating to the establishment of the divisions but claimed he could not find corresponding allocations.
He argued that tackling insecurity required proper planning and adequate funding rather than announcements without corresponding budgetary preparation.
Makinde said his proposed “Reset Nigeria” agenda could be implemented within four years if he is elected president in 2027.
He identified security, education, economic management and the socio-political environment as the four major areas of focus.
“Reset and give Nigeria a new security architecture, reset and give Nigeria a new path for education, reset our economy utilising data, science, and logic, and reset our socio-political environment in four years. That is our agenda,” he said.
The APM candidate also proposed a transitional government of national unity beginning on May 29, 2027, saying it would eventually produce “new players and a new agenda for Nigeria’s sustainable development.”
The Lafia town hall formed part of the APM’s zonal engagements ahead of the 2027 presidential election, following the party’s broader campaign activities and presentation of its “Reset Nigeria” platform.
