Makinde launches 2027 presidential bid in Bauchi, warns against one-party rule
- Oyo Governor Makinde has launched his APM presidential campaign in Bauchi ahead of the 2027 election.
- He accused the APC of squeezing opposition parties and warned Nigeria must not become a one-party state.
- Makinde also criticised the Tinubu administration's economic reforms and promised a 'Reset Nigeria Agenda'.
Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has formally opened his 2027 presidential campaign, telling supporters in Bauchi that Nigeria's democracy must not be narrowed to a single ruling party.
Makinde, who is running on the platform of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), held the flag-off on Saturday at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium in Bauchi. His running mate, Lawal Daura, and Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed were among those expected at the event, according to Leadership.
Supporters began filing into the stadium before noon, Leadership reported, with party leaders and other political figures still arriving as the rally got under way.
Attack on APC over opposition
Speaking on Bauchi Radio Corporation (BRC) the day before the rally, Makinde said the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) was working to weaken opposition parties. He described a recent Federal High Court judgment involving the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, as unfortunate and a danger to democratic governance.
"President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the APC should allow opposition to breathe," he said during the interview.
He insisted Nigeria cannot become a one-party state and called on the President and the APC to let rival parties operate freely.
The governor also took aim at the Tinubu administration's economic policies, arguing that major reforms were rolled out without enough planning or a clear plan for carrying them out. That, he said, has deepened the hardship Nigerians face.
He added that insecurity remains a serious problem and that fixing both the economy and security will take deep structural changes and strong political will.
What Makinde is promising
Makinde said his "Reset Nigeria Agenda" — backed by a policy framework and manifesto — offers a different path. According to him, it would reform key sectors, promote sustainable development and restore true federalism that respects Nigeria's many nationalities.
He said the country's diversity should be a source of strength rather than division, and that his plans would put the economy on a path to lasting growth and strengthen national unity.
The Bauchi rally is seen as an early test of whether the APM can turn political alliances and grassroots support into a credible nationwide campaign. Makinde had unveiled his manifesto in Abuja earlier in the weekend, saying Nigeria needs a new political and economic order centred on citizens' welfare.
What happens next
The 2027 general elections are still ahead, and the APM will need to build structures across the country if Makinde's bid is to go beyond a regional showing. For now, the party says the Bauchi flag-off marks the start of its national campaign.
