The presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) and Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has expressed confidence in winning the 2027 presidential election, saying he has God and Nigerians on his side.

Mr Makinde made the declaration on Sunday during a church service at the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN), 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 ambition was driven by the need to reset Nigeria through effective leadership and address challenges affecting the country.

“When I said in Oyo State in 2018 that I would like to be governor, somebody asked me, ‘Governor of which Rotary District?’ I said Governor of Oyo State, and they asked, ‘With no godfather; nobody in politics who can stand in for you?’ I responded by saying, well, I have God the Father. And I became the Governor of Oyo State.

“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.

Unveils reset Nigeria agenda

Mr Makinde said his proposed administration would focus on four major areas: security, the economy, education and the socio-political system.

He described the agenda, tagged Reset Nigeria, as a plan to address the country’s challenges through effective governance and clear policy commitments.

The governor said his administration in Oyo State had been guided by planning, transparency and accountability, with development road maps covering his two terms from 2019 to 2027.

Presenting his manifesto to the church leadership, he urged Nigerians to hold him accountable for the promises 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.

Calls for economic reset and state police

Speaking during a political programme on Jay FM in Jos, Mr Makinde argued that Nigeria needed a complete reset rather than incremental reforms.

He identified the economy as the country’s foremost priority, insisting that economic progress should be measured by improvements in the daily lives of ordinary Nigerians rather than economic statistics alone.

He questioned the relevance of rising external reserves and reported improvements in inflation if citizens were still struggling to afford food and other basic necessities.

“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?” he asked.

The APM candidate also advocated the establishment of state police, arguing that decentralising the country’s security architecture would allow governors to respond more effectively to threats within their jurisdictions.

He recalled approaching the late President Muhammadu Buhari towards the end of 2019 to advocate state police but said the proposal faced concerns over the financial capacity of some states.

He said governors in the South-West subsequently established the Western Nigeria Security Network, popularly known as Amotekun, as an interim security arrangement.

Mr Makinde acknowledged concerns that state police could be abused by governors to intimidate citizens and political opponents but maintained that appropriate safeguards could prevent such excesses.

He said states that were ready and had established the necessary safeguards should be allowed to establish their own police structures.

Links insecurity to unemployment

The governor also linked insecurity to the lack of economic opportunities for young Nigerians, warning that failure to provide a clear future for the country’s growing youth population could worsen criminal activities and social instability.

He called for greater investment in skills acquisition, entrepreneurship, education and production to create employment opportunities.

Mr Makinde argued that Nigeria needed to build an environment where businesses could thrive and young people could contribute meaningfully to national development.

Defends COVID-19 lockdown decision

The Oyo governor also recalled his decision not to impose a total lockdown in the state during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

He said he opposed the proposal because many residents depended on their daily earnings to provide food for themselves and their families.

Mr Makinde explained that his decision was based on science, data and the economic realities facing residents, despite criticism at the time.

He said the experience reinforced his belief that policies must reflect the circumstances of the people they are designed to serve.

Promises education reforms

On education, Mr Makinde said he remained committed to the vision of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo on free education.

He also emphasised transparency and accountability as essential to improving Nigeria’s education system and strengthening higher institutions as centres of research and innovation.

Earlier, the President of COCIN, Reverend Amos Mohzo, urged the presidential candidate to address Nigeria’s major challenges, particularly insecurity and economic hardship.

Mr Mohzo also prayed for his success in the 2027 presidential election and encouraged him to sustain his political ambition.

Mr Makinde, who flagged off his presidential campaign in Bauchi State on Saturday, is expected to attend the party’s Plateau State rally at Rayfield Park in Jos on Monday.

The Independent National Electoral Commission has fixed 16 January 2027, for the presidential election.