Oyo State Governor and Allied Peoples Movement (APM) presidential candidate, Seyi Makinde, has pushed back against critics questioning his ambition warning that dismissing his grassroots momentum amounts to disregarding the hopes and aspirations of millions of ordinary Nigerians.
Makinde made this known at the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) presidential campaign headquarters inauguration in Abuja.
Inaugurating the facility, the party’s National Chairman, Dr. Yusuf Dantalle, described the event as the start of a collective effort to redirect the nation.
“With this milestone, the long-awaited journey to reset Nigeria has begun,” Dantalle declared, noting that the campaign headquarters will serve as the hub for party operations heading into the 2027 general elections.
Dantalle stated that the Makinde-Daura ticket blends governance experience with security expertise, arguing that the candidates possess the capability to address Nigeria’s economic and security challenges.
“With a competent vice-presidential candidate like Daura, who once led a critical national security agency, insecurity will be confronted head-on,” he said.
The APM chairman cited Makinde’s track record as governor of Oyo State as proof of his capacity to drive economic development and bolster stability.
He emphasized that the party’s campaign will remain issue-focused, centered on competence, unity, and practical solutions rather than divisive politics.
The party also highlighted recent electoral performances, including its reported victory across all local government areas in Bauchi State.
Addressing attendees, Makinde concentrated on national economic policy, specifically the pricing mechanism for petroleum products.
He argued that domestic crude oil allocations should be priced on local production costs rather than arbitrary international benchmarks.
The governor also called for transparency across the petroleum supply chain, from extraction to retail, insisting that the government must clearly account for pump prices.
Responding to doubts regarding the depth of his political structure, Makinde pointed to his initial victory in the Oyo State governorship race and cautioned against dismissing ordinary Nigerians.
“What skeptics are really suggesting is that the hopes of millions of Nigerians do not count,” he said.
He maintained that political engagement must extend beyond party elites to incorporate traders, farmers, workers, and youths.
Makinde invited citizens to utilize the new campaign facility as a center for civic dialogue, urging Nigerians to scrutinize political manifestos and demand accountable governance.
“This is our country and these are our resources; we count, and together, we will reset Nigeria,” he concluded.