The presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Seyi Makinde, has pledged to end what he described as a culture of political deception ahead of the 2027 general election, promising an inclusive government built on truth, transparency and national unity.
Makinde, who spoke at the APM North-East town hall meeting in Yola, Adamawa State, said the election should mark a turning point in Nigeria’s political history, with leaders telling citizens the truth about the challenges confronting the country.
“2027 will mark the end of the politics of lies and deceit. It is a time when we will all come together to establish a reset agenda and tell Nigerians the whole truth,” he said.
The Oyo State governor also pledged to serve a single four-year term if elected president, describing his proposed administration as a transitional government of national unity that would promote inclusion and lay the foundation for a new political direction.
“I stand before you today to tell you that the government you will put in place from May 29, 2027, will be a transitional government of national unity. Our government will not last beyond four years. And it will be an all-inclusive government,” Makinde said.
The APM candidate also challenged President Bola Tinubu to make the Federal Government’s petroleum pricing template public, arguing that Nigerians deserved to know how pump prices were determined.
He questioned the administration’s handling of fuel pricing and related energy policies, including the compressed natural gas (CNG) programme, electric vehicles and the naira-for-crude initiative, arguing that the measures had not delivered the expected results.
Makinde said occupying public office did not give political leaders a monopoly on ideas or solutions to the country’s problems.
“The fact that you are in government or the Presidential Villa does not make you the only Nigerians with sense. We have other citizens who can dissect issues and proffer solutions,” he said.
He argued that greater transparency in petroleum pricing would allow Nigerians and independent experts to scrutinise the assumptions behind pump prices and propose alternative solutions.
His remarks come amid continuing public debate over the economic consequences of fuel subsidy removal and the rising cost of living.
Makinde has called for a review of the petroleum pricing framework, arguing that the debate should go beyond whether subsidies should be retained or removed to examine whether the existing system delivers fair benefits to Nigerians, as owners of the country’s natural resources.
He also pledged to run an inclusive administration that would accommodate Nigeria’s diverse interests, amid concerns about the concentration of political power in particular regions.
Makinde said his proposed Reset Nigeria agenda would address the country’s political and economic challenges through transparency, public participation and a different approach to governance.
He explained that the party had delayed releasing its manifesto to allow consultations with stakeholders and incorporate their views before finalising its policy proposals.
Earlier, the APM National Leader and Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, described the party as a growing force in the opposition, citing its governors, elected officials and expanding membership.
“Whoever does not reckon with us is going to do so at his or her peril,” Mohammed said, urging party supporters to rally behind the party’s presidential ambition.
He said the APM was committed to national unity, mutual respect and equal opportunities for Nigerians, regardless of their backgrounds.