2027: Seyi Makinde Expresses Confidence in Beating Rivals, Says God and Nigerians Are Behind Him

Oyo State Governor and Allied Peoples Movement (APM) presidential candidate Seyi Makinde has expressed confidence in his ambition to become Nigeria’s next president, declaring that he has God and Nigerians on his side ahead of the 2027 general election.

Makinde made the declaration on Sunday during a church service at the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN) in Jos, Plateau State, where he said his presidential ambition was not dependent on political godfathers but on divine support and the backing of Nigerians.

In a statement issued by his Director of Strategic Communications, Richard Ihediwa, the governor said his decision to contest the presidency was driven by the need to reset Nigeria and address challenges affecting security, the economy, education and the country’s socio-political system.

He drew a comparison between his presidential ambition and his successful bid to become Oyo State governor in 2019, recalling that some people had questioned how he intended to win without the backing of influential political figures.

Makinde said he had responded at the time that he had God the Father, adding that he was relying on the same source of support for his presidential ambition.

“This time around, we also have God the Father, and God will be merciful unto Nigeria, and He will show us mercy in this country,” he said.

The governor also presented his Reset Nigeria Agenda, which he said was developed ahead of the 2027 election to address four major areas: security, the economy, education and the socio-political system.

He maintained that his administration in Oyo State had been guided by planning, transparency and accountability, with development roadmaps covering his two terms from 2019 to 2027.

Presenting the manifesto to the church leadership, Makinde challenged Nigerians to hold him accountable for the commitments contained in the document.

“I want Nigerians to be able to hold me accountable, not just through promises but through documented commitments. Everything is written down in black and white, and I am prepared to be held accountable for everything contained in this document,” he said.

He also urged Nigerians, particularly Christians, to participate actively in politics and prepare to exercise their voting rights in the 2027 election.

The President of COCIN, Reverend Dr Amos Mohzo, encouraged the presidential candidate to address the country’s major challenges, particularly insecurity and economic hardship. He also prayed for his success in the election.

Makinde’s comments in Jos came after he flagged off his presidential campaign in Bauchi State on Saturday. He was in Plateau State ahead of the APM’s rally scheduled for Monday at Rayfield Park.

Speaking separately during a live political programme on Jay FM in Jos, the governor argued that Nigeria needed a complete reset rather than adjustments to the existing system.

He identified the economy as the country’s foremost priority, insisting that economic performance should be judged by the living conditions of ordinary Nigerians rather than figures such as foreign reserves and inflation statistics alone.

According to him, an improving economy should translate into better living conditions, including the ability of citizens to afford food and meet their basic needs.

Makinde said:

“The economy must work for everybody. It is not about taking numbers out and saying external reserves have grown or quoting what the World Bank said about inflationary trends.

“What is the ordinary man on the street feeling? Are they able to feed themselves? If you cannot feel the impact of an improving economy at the street level, then the economy is not getting better.”

He argued that the country’s existing challenges were too deep to be addressed through ordinary reforms, using the example of a malfunctioning computer system that requires a complete reboot rather than repeated adjustments.

The governor also called for increased investment in skills acquisition, entrepreneurship, education and local production, saying Nigeria needed an environment where businesses could grow and create employment for its large youth population.

On security, Makinde renewed his support for state police, promising to decentralise the country’s security architecture if elected president.

He argued that allowing states to establish their own police forces, subject to appropriate safeguards, would enable governors to respond more effectively to security threats within their jurisdictions.

Recalling his early days in office, Makinde said he had approached the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari towards the end of 2019 to advocate state police because of growing security concerns.

He explained that the proposal faced resistance partly because some states were struggling to pay workers’ salaries and might not have been financially capable of maintaining separate police structures.

According to him, governors in the South-West subsequently established the Western Nigeria Security Network, popularly known as Amotekun, as an alternative security arrangement while the debate over state police continued.

Makinde described Amotekun as an intermediate arrangement between a fully established state police system and having no additional regional security structure.

He said the initiative had helped security agencies in the South-West through intelligence gathering and cooperation with federal security operatives.

The governor acknowledged concerns that state police could be abused by governors to intimidate citizens or political opponents. However, he maintained that such risks could be addressed through safeguards and that states should be allowed to establish their own forces when they meet the necessary requirements.

He said:

“Those concerns are legitimate because some people believe it could become a tool in the hands of state governors to oppress the people.

“But we have gone through this type of arrangement before. We do not all have to establish state police at the same time. Let the opportunity exist. If you think you are ready, you have ticked the boxes and put the safeguards in place, you should go ahead and secure your state.”

Makinde also linked insecurity to unemployment and the lack of economic opportunities for young Nigerians, warning that failure to provide a clear future for the country’s growing youth population could deepen criminality and social instability.

He argued that investments in education, entrepreneurship and skills development would be necessary to address some of the conditions contributing to insecurity.

The governor further recalled his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, when he rejected a mandatory total lockdown in Oyo State, arguing that many residents depended on their daily activities to afford food.

He said he had opposed a blanket lockdown during discussions at the National Economic Council because of the potential consequences for low-income households.

Makinde maintained that his decision was informed by scientific advice, available data and the economic realities facing residents, although he acknowledged that his position attracted criticism at the time.

On education, the governor expressed support for the vision of late former Western Region Premier Chief Obafemi Awolowo, particularly his commitment to free education.

He also said his proposed approach to improving higher education would involve greater transparency, accountability and efforts to turn Nigerian institutions into research centres.

Makinde’s presidential campaign is taking place ahead of the 2027 general election, with INEC’s published timetable listing January 16, 2027, as the date for the presidential poll.

His proposed Reset Nigeria Agenda places economic conditions, security, education and institutional accountability at the centre of his campaign.