The presidential candidate of the Allied People’s Movement (APM), Seyi Makinde, has said the party will work with other opposition political parties to give Nigerians a credible alternative in the 2027 general elections.
Makinde, who is the governor of Oyo State, spoke on Thursday at the APM national convention, held at the Dr Rilwanu Sulaimanu Adamu Square, Government House, Bauchi.
The governor was said to have stressed that the survival of democracy depends on strong opposition and urged the new leadership of the party to work with other opposition groups in readiness for the 2027 elections.
“I have said that the existence of a credible opposition is what sustains democracy. “Therefore, our new leaders must be ready to collaborate 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 measurable improvement in the lives of Nigerians and not on political slogans, 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 improved people’s lives,” he said.
Makinde said that the economic policies were felt by Nigerians in terms of their purchasing power, and that the impact of government policies should be measured by its effect on daily life.
Our mothers go to the market and they feel economic policy as a statistic. They feel it in what they can buy with their money: how much rice, how much beans, and how much they can take home.
“We see job creation policy in a press statement. The experience is can you find productive work,” he added.
The governor urged Nigerians to judge the governments on productivity, access to markets, improved welfare and security of families, rather than the number of programs launched or security meetings held.
“Security is not how many security meetings there are in Government House. “It is whether people come home and sleep with their two eyes closed,” he said.
Makinde said the 2027 election should be about ideas and evidence, with political candidates telling Nigerians how their policies would lead to visible improvements in their lives.
“The election in 2027 should not just be about what government has done. It should be about what has changed for Nigerians.”
“And we who pose as alternatives must answer the question, exactly what will we do differently and what measurable difference should Nigeria expect to see?” he said.
The APM candidate said the areas that need urgent attention include poverty reduction, productive jobs for young people, quality education and effective security.
He also called for a more robust federal structure that would devolve more decisions and resources to the people and strengthen accountability.
“We need a federation that takes more decisions and resources closer to the people and accountability for results,” Makinde said.
He also appealed for a political system that could restore confidence between the leadership and the citizens, saying that political differences should not turn opponents into enemies.
“We want a politics where disagreement does not make us enemies; a politics where opposition is not only about removing those in power, but about presenting a credible and showing a better alternative,” he said.
Makinde said the ultimate goal ahead of the 2027 elections should be to give Nigerians a real choice about the future of the country.
“The task ahead of all of us is bigger than winning an election. It is to present Nigerians with a genuine choice about the future of their country.
“Let the campaign ahead be an issues campaign. Let’s argue the evidence.” Let us have a comparison of records. “Let all who want to lead Nigerians answer one simple question: How will the lives of Nigerians be better because we were given the chance to lead?” he asked.