The Makinde/Daura Presidential Campaign Organisation has set a target of securing at least 41 million votes in the 2027 presidential election, while warning against attempts to manipulate the electoral process.

The Vice Presidential Candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Lawal Daura, disclosed this yesterday at the inauguration of the National Campaign Management Committee of the Makinde/Daura Presidential Campaign Organisation.

Daura, who described the task of mobilising voters for the presidential ticket as enormous, said the campaign would focus on canvassing for votes through its programmes, policies and engagement with Nigerians rather than relying on shortcuts.

He said the campaign’s target was based on the reported figure of about 103 million registered voters, adding that securing two-fifths of the electorate would be a major objective of the organisation.

“We are aiming to get nothing less than two-fifths of the 103 million,” Daura said.

He warned those contemplating electoral malpractice that the campaign would insist on strict compliance with the law and the Electoral Act.

“A lot of those that are thinking that there is a way to get votes other than canvassing for them, telling the people how qualitative you are, your programmes, and the rest of it, maybe there are those who may think there is a shortcut.

“Well, this time around, the struggle is for real. We are not going to let them escape with it. We must make sure that everything is done in accordance with the law and the Electoral Act.

“And for those who really want to rig, that they can pull a fast one, well, they have a surprise coming,” he said.

Daura said the campaign was seeking to reposition the country through what he described as a “reset,” arguing that fundamental aspects of Nigeria’s political and governance structure would require review and reform.

He said the task of resetting the country would require committed and experienced personnel, noting that the campaign committee had been constituted with individuals considered capable of delivering the objective.

According to him, with barely 100 days to the election, the campaign could not afford to leave its preparations to chance.

He charged members of the committee to demonstrate focus, determination and commitment, expressing confidence in the team’s ability to prosecute the campaign.

“We want boldness. We want focus. We want people with resolve to succeed, people that have never allowed failure to be part of their government,” he said.

Also speaking, APM National Chairman, Yusuf Mamman Dantalle, said the overriding objective of the campaign was to secure victory for the Seyi Makinde/Lawal Daura ticket and form the next government at the federal level.

Dantalle acknowledged that the campaign would face challenges, including differences among members drawn from diverse political, religious and social backgrounds.

He, however, urged members of the newly inaugurated committee to manage such differences constructively and work closely with the structures of the party.

“Our ability to manage our internal problems is what Nigeria wants to see,” he said, stressing that the campaign’s ability to work together would be critical to its objective.

Dantalle cautioned that the inauguration of the campaign committee should not be mistaken for victory, saying members must translate their appointments into effective mobilisation and electoral success.

He urged the committee to work with the party structures to ensure that all stakeholders operated from the same page.

“We will disagree, definitely, we will disagree. There are things I am not supposed to say here, but what is important is I appeal to all of us. Let’s do what we can to ensure that we work together,” he said.

The APM chairman said the different levels of political experience among members of the campaign should be viewed as an advantage, rather than a source of division.

He noted that while some members had participated only in local government or state elections, others had experience of national elections, adding that accommodating the differences would strengthen the organisation.

Dantalle congratulated the members of the campaign committee and urged them to commence work towards translating their mandate into the desired electoral outcome.