Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has promised practical reforms that will improve welfare and security across Nigeria if he wins the 2027 presidential election.
The governor stated this in his acceptance speech after his affirmation as the consensus Presidential candidate of the Allied People’s Movement (APM) at the Professor Theophilus Ogunlesi Hall, University College Hospital, Ibadan, on Saturday.
Speaking to a large gathering of party members, Makinde promised that the APM’s reforms would address the country’s immediate challenges.
Makinde, who condemned the rising cases of insecurity, inflation, and hunger in the country, said a new direction must emerge to reset Nigeria. He noted that the country cannot afford to continue with business as usual while citizens suffer.
“Today, even as I stand here, some innocent schoolchildren and citizens abducted by terrorists are still in captivity. As Governor of Oyo State, I carry the painful burden of being called Chief Security Officer, yet lacking constitutional control over the security agencies needed to fully confront these threats. No Governor should be placed in a situation where responsibility is placed on his shoulders, but the necessary authority is withheld.”
2027 Presidential Election: Overhauling the Nigeria National Security Architecture
To correct these structural issues, Makinde stated that fixing the security system would be his main priority from day one. He argued that state governments must have the power to protect their people without waiting for orders from Abuja.
“As President of Nigeria, I will work to reform our Nigeria national security architecture so that states are no longer left helpless in moments of crisis,” Makinde said.
“The decentralisation that we need for a more effective security will be prioritised. The safety of Nigerians will not be treated as a political talking point. It will be a national duty. I believe we have the capacity to rebuild our economy with honesty and practical reforms.”
Energy Pricing and Refinery Ownership
About the economy, the governor said that Nigerians must see the direct benefits of living in an oil-producing nation. He promised to set up fair and transparent pricing templates for petroleum products to stop arbitrary price hikes.
“Nigerians must be protected from arbitrary pricing and not have to bear the cost of the government’s failure to secure our borders,” he said. “I dare dream that the NNPC will be reformed and become lean, efficient, and commercially driven through proper joint venture incorporation and institutional reforms. I dare dream that we will reset Nigeria and take the difficult but necessary decision to restructure the ownership of our refineries so Nigeria can finally stop bleeding resources into systems that no longer serve the people effectively.”
Transport Subsidies and Agriculture
The governor also promised to expand public transportation support systems. He noted that he would scale up the transport models that have already worked well in Oyo State to reduce costs for workers, students, traders, and families nationwide.
On food security, Makinde said his administration would gather accurate data on the country’s agricultural capacity. He explained that this data would make it easier to fix the gaps in food production, processing, transport logistics, and storage.
He assured voters that his campaign would focus strictly on solutions, competence, and the future, adding: “Together, we can build a Nigeria where security is not a privilege, where opportunity is not reserved for a few, and where leadership finally serves the people.”
Party Leadership Backs Candidacy
Earlier in the day, the 36 state chairmen of the Allied People’s Movement completed the formal affirmation process. The party’s National Chairman, Alhaji Yusuf Dantalle, described Makinde’s emergence as the start of a new chapter in Nigeria’s political history.
Dantalle said Nigeria is ready for a new generation of leaders committed to human development, security, education, healthcare, agriculture, and infrastructure. He added that power must return to ordinary citizens, noting that the APM wants to build a government where the people are at the centre of every decision.
In their separate goodwill messages, the Governor of Bauchi State, Senator Bala Mohammed (represented by his deputy, Rt. Hon. Mohammed Jatau), and the APM Lagos State gubernatorial candidate, Hon Laja Adeoye, urged party members to work hard to secure victory at the polls, expressing confidence that Makinde would deliver on his promises.
