Oyo State Governor and presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples’ Movement (APM), Seyi Makinde, has urged residents of the Southwest to reject what he described as “turn-by-turn” politics and nepotism, calling on the region to lead a new national rebirth under his Reset Nigeria agenda.

Makinde made the call at the APM Southwest Town Hall held at the Ondo State International Conference Centre, popularly known as The Dome, in Akure, Ondo State.

He described the Southwest as a historic vanguard of Nigeria’s progress, arguing that leadership positions should be determined by competence, energy and readiness to serve rather than political entitlement or assumptions about which region should produce a candidate.

The governor dismissed suggestions that the Southwest should not field another presidential candidate because the region currently holds the presidency.

He recalled that in 1999, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and Chief Olu Falae contested the presidential election without controversy, insisting that democratic competition should not be restricted by such considerations.

Makinde outlined four pillars of his Reset Nigeria agenda: education, the economy, security, and socio-political empowerment.

He said Nigeria’s prosperity depended on developing citizens’ skills and knowledge, creating a secure environment for economic activities and building a political system in which opposition parties could operate effectively.

The governor also criticised what he described as a lack of clarity in the Federal Government’s budgeting process, contrasting it with Oyo State’s January-to-December budget cycle.

He claimed that his administration had recorded more than 70 per cent budget performance over the past seven years, adding that effective planning and implementation were essential to delivering development.

Makinde advocated a productive economy in which states received their statutory entitlements without delays. He also called for a tax system that promoted economic growth and prosperity rather than placing additional pressure on citizens already facing hardship.

Urging party supporters to take the Reset Nigeria message to communities across the country, he asked them to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards and mobilise voters through door-to-door campaigns.

“The Southwest must again serve as the birthplace of Nigeria’s rebirth,” he said, reiterating his call for collective action under the Reset Nigeria agenda.

The APM vice-presidential candidate, Alhaji Lawal Daura, reaffirmed the party’s commitment to national renewal and cautioned members against alleged attempts by political actors to infiltrate the party and create divisions.

He said the APM remained united and committed to its political objectives.

In goodwill messages, former Osun State Governor Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, the party’s Deputy Director-General (Administration), Hajia Maryam Inna Ciroma, and a retired civil servant, Dr Layi Ogunbambi, praised Makinde’s decision to pursue national leadership.

They urged young Nigerians to support leaders they considered capable of addressing the country’s challenges and called for the protection of democratic institutions and Nigeria’s multiparty system.

The APM National Chairman, Alhaji Yusuf Dantalle, and its National Leader, Senator Bala Mohammed, criticised the economic policies of the ruling party, arguing that they had worsened hardship across the country.

They expressed confidence in the Makinde–Daura ticket ahead of the 2027 general election, saying the party’s proposed agenda could restore economic prosperity if elected.

Earlier, the Southwest Zonal Coordinator of the Makinde–Daura Campaign Organisation, Chief Eddy Olafeso, said governance should prioritise the welfare of citizens. He described Makinde as prepared to pursue a new direction for the country.

Those who attended the town hall included Oyo State Deputy Governor, Bayo Lawal; former deputy governor, Engr. Hamid Gbadamosi; Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Adebo Ogundoyin; and former Speaker of the Assembly, Senator Monsurat Sunmonu, alongside other political stakeholders from the Southwest.