Oyo State Governor and Allied People’s Movement (APM) presidential candidate, Seyi Makinde, has placed economic recovery and decentralised policing at the centre of his 2027 campaign, arguing that Nigeria requires a complete reset rather than adjustments to its existing system.
Speaking during an interview on Jay FM in Jos, ahead of his party’s rally, Titiansloaded reports that Makinde said the country’s economic performance should be judged by whether ordinary citizens can afford food and meet their daily needs, rather than relying solely on official indicators.
He argued that rising external reserves or reported improvements in inflation figures would mean little if Nigerians could not experience better living conditions.
Makinde also promised to introduce state police if elected, saying governors should be allowed to establish the security structure once they meet the necessary requirements and safeguards.
He acknowledged concerns that state police could be abused by governors to target political opponents or intimidate residents, but maintained that proper oversight could prevent such practices.
He cited the South-West’s Amotekun security network as an arrangement that had helped bridge the gap between federal policing and community security.
The governor recalled that he had approached the late President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration in 2019 to advocate state police, but financial concerns raised by some states stalled the proposal.
At a church service organised by the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN) in Jos, Makinde also expressed confidence in his chances of winning the 2027 presidential election, saying his ambition depended on God and the support of Nigerians rather than political godfathers.
He presented his Reset Nigeria Agenda, which identifies security, the economy, education and the socio-political system as its major priorities. He urged Nigerians to hold him accountable for the commitments contained in the manifesto.
Makinde further linked insecurity to unemployment and limited opportunities for young people, warning that failure to create a clear economic future could worsen criminality and conflict.
On education, he reaffirmed his support for the free-education philosophy associated with the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, while promising greater accountability and improvements in higher education.
The governor, who began his presidential campaign in Bauchi on Saturday, is scheduled to attend the APM rally in Plateau State.
The Independent National Electoral Commission has fixed January 16, 2027, for the presidential election.
