Seyi Makinde has urged Nigerians to reject the political system that has left them battling hunger, insecurity and exclusion. The APM presidential candidate spoke during the flag-off of his campaign in Bauchi State. He called on voters dissatisfied with the state of the country to support his Reset Agenda. He warned against allowing financial inducements to influence their decisions.
Makinde is the Oyo State governor and the APM presidential candidate. He launched the Reset Nigeria movement in September 2026. The movement positions itself as a break from the APC and PDP. Makinde has criticised the APC-led federal government over the economy and security. He has also been critical of the opposition’s fragmentation. His campaign is targeting voters who feel excluded from the political process.
Makinde said hunger remains Nigeria’s biggest problem. “We must ask ourselves whether we are comfortable with the state of our economy, the level of insecurity and the way the country is being governed,” he said. “If Nigerians are unhappy with the level of hunger, insecurity, lack of inclusion and dishonesty in government, then the only way forward is to reset the country.”
He cautioned against vote-buying. “Don’t bother at all when they bring money. It’s your money. Collect it, spend it, but vote your heart,” he told supporters. The statement is unusual. Most politicians condemn vote-buying without acknowledging its reality. Makinde acknowledged it and offered a pragmatic response. He did not explain how voters should resist the pressure to sell their votes. He did not address the poverty that makes vote-buying effective.
The campaign flag-off drew supporters. The APM is a smaller party. It lacks the machinery of the APC or PDP. Makinde’s profile as a sitting governor gives it credibility. The 2027 election is in January. The APM needs to build quickly.
Winners: Makinde, who gains a platform. The APM, which gains visibility. Voters who feel excluded, who gain a voice. Losers: The APC and PDP, which face criticism. Vote-buyers, who face a counter-message. The political process, which remains transactional. Voters who cannot resist inducements.
Bottom Line: Makinde wants a reset. He acknowledged vote-buying and told voters to take the money and vote their conscience. That is honest. It is not a solution. Poverty makes the choice impossible for many.