The presidential candidate of the Allied People’s Movement (APM), Seyi Makinde, has said the party will work with other opposition political parties to offer Nigerians a credible alternative in the 2027 general elections.
Oyo State governor, Makinde, spoke on Thursday at the APM national convention, held at the Dr Rilwanu Sulaimanu Adamu Square, Government House, Bauchi.
The governor was reported to have said that strong opposition was key to the survival of democracy and charged the new leadership of the party to work with other opposition groups in preparation for the 2027 elections.
“I have said that the presence of a credible opposition is what sustains democracy. “Therefore, our new leaders must be ready to work with other opposition parties to ensure that we give Nigeria an incredible alternative in the 2027 general election,” Makinde said.
He said the next general election should be based on verifiable improvement in the lives of the Nigerian people and not on political sloganeering, campaign promises and government announcements.
“Announcements have been the yardstick of governors for too long. “We are presented with policy after policy, rather than evidence of where those policies have made people’s lives better,” he said.
Makinde said that Nigerians felt the economic policies thru their purchasing power, and that the impact of government policies should be assessed by its effect on everyday life.
“When our mothers go to the market, they feel economic policy as a statistic. They feel it in what they can buy with their money, how much rice, how much beans, how much they can take home.
“We see a press statement on job creation policy. “You can find productive work,” he added.
The governor urged Nigerians to judge the governments on the basis of productivity, access to markets, improved welfare and security of families, rather than the number of programs launched or security meetings held.
“Security is not about the number of security meetings held at Government House. “It is whether people come home and sleep with their two eyes shut,” he said.
Makinde said the 2027 election should be about ideas and evidence, with political candidates telling Nigerians how their policies would result in visible improvements in their lives.
“The 2027 election should not just be about what government has done. “It should be about what has changed for Nigerians.”
“And those of us who present ourselves as alternatives must answer the question, what exactly will we do differently and what measurable difference should Nigeria expect to see?” he said.
The APM candidate identified poverty reduction, productive jobs for young people, quality education and effective security as key areas that require urgent attention.
He also called for a stronger federal structure to devolve more decisions and resources to the people and improve accountability.
“We need a federation that brings more decisions and resources closer to the people and accountability for results,” Makinde said.
He also called for a political system that could restore trust between leaders and citizens, saying political differences should not make opponents enemies.
“We want a politics where disagreement does not make us enemies; a politics where opposition is not simply about removing those in power, but about presenting a credible and demonstrating a better alternative,” he said.
The ultimate goal, ahead of the 2027 elections, should be to give Nigerians a real choice about the future of the country, Makinde said.
“The work that is ahead of all of us is bigger than just winning an election. It is to give Nigerians a real choice for the future of their country.
“Let the coming campaign be an issues campaign. Let us argue the evidence. Let us have a comparison of records. He asked, “Let all those seeking to lead Nigerians answer one simple question: How will the lives of Nigerians be better because we were given the chance to lead?
