The presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Seyi Makinde, has urged Nigerians to collect money offered by politicians during election campaigns but vote according to their conscience in the 2027 general election.
Mr Makinde gave the advice on Saturday in Bauchi State during the flag-off of the APM presidential campaign, where he urged voters not to allow financial inducements to influence their electoral choices.
“Don’t bother at all when they bring money, it is your money. Collect it, spend it, but vote your heart. And I know your heart is with us and with APM,” he told supporters.
The Oyo State Governor said Nigerians dissatisfied with the country’s current direction must support his proposed Reset Agenda, which he said would address hunger, insecurity and exclusion from governance.
He identified hunger as the biggest problem confronting the country and argued that the situation required a fundamental change in economic policies and governance.
“Our people are hungry. Because we’re hungry, should we reset the economy? Because there is insecurity, should we reset the security architecture? Because the majority of our people are not allowed to participate, should we reset the socio-political environment in Nigeria?” he asked.
Mr Makinde said Nigerians who were unhappy with the lack of inclusion, transparency and sincerity in government had only one option: to reset the country.
“If you are not happy with the way things are in our country today, if you’re not happy that there’s not enough inclusivity, if you’re not happy that your government cannot tell you the truth, they cannot handle our issues with sincerity, then there’s only one path for us. And the path is to reset Nigeria,” he said.
Bala Mohammed demands inclusion
The campaign flag-off was attended by the APM National Leader and Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, who urged Nigerians to support Mr Makinde’s presidential ambition.
Mr Mohammed said he and the presidential candidate left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) after experiencing what he described as injustice within the party.
He described the APM as a new political platform through which they could pursue their ambitions and promote a more inclusive political system.
The governor said Mr Makinde had the experience and capacity to lead Nigeria, citing his performance as governor of Oyo State.
He also said the presidential candidate’s proposed government of national unity would address tribalism, religious intolerance and political exclusion.
Mr Mohammed, however, urged Mr Makinde to ensure that Bauchi State and the North-east would not be marginalised if he won the presidency.
He called for fairness in federal appointments, insisting that government positions should reflect the country’s diversity and adhere to the federal character principle.
“There are over 100,000 positions to be filled, but they must not be occupied by one ethnic group alone or skewed in favour of one tribe,” he said.
The governor said appointments should balance merit with equitable representation, adding that leadership recruitment must reflect the interests of different sections of the country.
He also lamented the financial challenges facing Bauchi State, saying he did not want the state to remain disadvantaged after supporting the APM presidential candidate.
“We are even tired of being in the opposition. We have lost a lot. I know how much I suffered as the leader of the opposition. I do not want to come into government only to be marginalised and pushed aside again,” he said.
He added that Bauchi needed greater support to meet its financial obligations, including the payment of workers’ salaries.
APM promises inclusive government
Also speaking, the APM National Chairman, Yusuf Dantalle said the party’s Reset Agenda was designed to address what he described as deceit and hypocrisy in Nigerian politics.
He said the party intended to establish a government in which public office holders would be accountable and committed to the welfare of Nigerians, irrespective of their ethnic, religious or social backgrounds.
Mr Dantalle said the proposed administration would promote broader participation in governance and develop an agreed national programme to address the country’s challenges.
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He also called for greater representation of women in political leadership, lamenting the limited number of women in the National Assembly and other decision-making institutions.
The chairman disclosed that the party had established a directorate dedicated to women’s affairs and engaged the National Assembly Joint Committee on the proposed special seats for women.
He commended the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, for initiating the proposal, although it did not receive the necessary legislative support.
The chairman urged Nigerians to scrutinise the party’s proposals, saying its leadership was prepared to answer difficult questions about its policies and commitments.
The APM campaign flag-off marks the beginning of the party’s mobilisation for the 2027 general election, with Mr Makinde seeking to sell his Reset Agenda as an alternative to the country’s current political and economic direction.
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