Makinde Urges South-east to Vote Beyond Ethnic Lines in 2027 Elections

The Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, who is also the presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), has urged the people of the South-east to vote without considering ethnic or religious ties in the 2027 elections.

He emphasized that Igbos should not let ethnic and religious feelings guide their votes just because Peter Obi hails from the South-east.

Mr. Obi, a former governor of Anambra State, is the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress.

Makinde spoke at the APM Town Hall meeting in Enugu on Thursday.

He said he came to the South-east to share his Reset Agenda for Nigeria. This was despite feeling discouraged about visiting since Obi is from the region.

"When we were coming here, we were almost discouraged because this is the zone of my friend and brother, Peter Obi and the South-east is totally for him," he stated.

The Oyo governor urged the Igbos to set aside negative feelings during the upcoming general election.

"My message to you today is: reject all visions across either religious or ethnic lines.

The challenges we are faced with do not know religion, do not know ethnicity," he added.

Makinde explained that he has delayed releasing his campaign manifesto due to criticism from his opponents. He wants to finish his town hall meetings across Nigeria first.

He said these meetings help him listen to the people and understand their needs before creating his manifesto.

"So, this is the last of the town hall meetings. Over this weekend we will be walking around the clock with our team to get our manifesto ready and it will be launched on the 4th of November 2026," he announced.

Makinde said his Reset Agenda has four key areas: economy, security, education, and socio-politics.

He promised to serve sincerely, stating it could solve at least 30 percent of Nigeria’s issues.

"So, we will ensure that we bridge the trust deficit between the leaders and the citizens," he said, adding that he has done similar work in Oyo State.

He also promised to train young people in skills to boost job creation and cut down the unemployment rate in the country.

"The job of the government is to create an atmosphere conducive for businesses to thrive and that is exactly what we will do," he assured.

Earlier, Okechukwu Obiechina, the South-east Coordinator of the Makinde-Duara Presidential Campaign Organisation, shared that Nigeria has faced tough times due to poor leadership.

Obiechina expressed hope that Makinde would save the country if he becomes president.

"People are finding it difficult to eat three square meals a day, they’re struggling to fuel their vehicles or even pay school fees for their children.

His Reset Agenda will reset Nigeria. For him, there’s no sacrifice that is too much to be paid for Nigeria," he said.

Yusuf Dantalle, the National Chairman of the APM, claimed that President Bola Tinubu has not fulfilled his promises since taking office in 2023.

Dantalle pointed out that Makinde is well-suited to take over from Tinubu and complete the Southern Nigeria term.

"Today, we are calling on President Tinubu to support a new direction and step aside from the 2027 race to allow Makinde complete the remaining four years of the Southern term," he said.

Lawal Daura, the APM’s vice-presidential candidate, stated that the party is committed to addressing Nigeria’s problems through a 16-point agenda.

He stressed that the party aims to reform the system for the benefit of all Nigerians.

"We are Resetters, volunteers, and we are here to sacrifice for the good of the nation. We are serious about this mission. We are not here to joke, to steal or to lie," he said.