By Rauf Oyewole
The presidential nn̈yhbnnnÿ of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) in the 2027 general elections, Engr. Seyi Makinde, has described the recent Federal High Court judgement affecting the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, as unfortunate and undemocratic.
Makinde, who criticised what he described as attempts by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to weaken the opposition, said Nigeria could not afford to become a one-party state.
He spoke during a live interview on the Bauchi Radio Corporation (BRC) in Bauchi on Friday, while reacting to the judgement delivered by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court.
The APM candidate, who was in Bauchi to flag off his presidential campaign, urged President Bola Tinubu and the APC to allow opposition parties to operate freely, warning that suppressing alternative political voices could undermine the country’s democratic development.
“What happened to the ADC and its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, is rather unfortunate and undemocratic,” he said.
“There is no way Nigeria can be a one-party state. The APC must get that clear.”
Makinde called on Nigerians not to lose hope in the country despite the prevailing economic and security challenges, expressing optimism that a change of government in 2027 would provide an opportunity to rebuild the nation.
He also criticised the economic policies of the Tinubu administration, arguing that major policy decisions were introduced without adequate planning and a clearly defined implementation framework, thereby worsening the living conditions of Nigerians.
According to him, the economic difficulties confronting citizens began almost immediately after the present administration assumed office, stressing that policies of national importance required proper coordination to minimise their negative effects.
On insecurity, Makinde described the situation as one of the major challenges confronting Nigeria, calling for fundamental reforms and the political will to address the country’s economic and security problems.
He said these challenges informed the development of the APM’s Reset Nigeria Agenda, which he described as a comprehensive policy framework designed to reposition the country for sustainable development.
The presidential candidate identified the country’s federal structure and socio-political differences as other critical issues requiring urgent attention.
He argued that Nigeria’s founding fathers negotiated a Federal Republic that accommodates different nationalities, insisting that the country’s diversity should be recognised and harnessed as a strength rather than a source of division.
“Nigeria was established by our founding fathers, who negotiated a federal republic. This means we must acknowledge that there are several nations within one nation. We must, therefore, find a way to work together, ensuring that our diversity becomes a source of unity as we pursue a common goal,” he said.
Explaining the APM’s Reset Nigeria Agenda, Makinde said the party had identified key sectors requiring urgent reforms and outlined practical measures to address the challenges in its manifesto.
He said the agenda was developed from the party’s understanding of Nigeria’s governance challenges, particularly poor coordination and excessive centralisation of power.
“When we developed the Reset Agenda for the country, it was informed by our firsthand experience of challenges relating to coordination and the over-centralisation of power,” he said.
Makinde explained that the agenda was built around four major pillars arranged according to priority, with the economy occupying the foremost position.
He maintained that the ultimate objective of the proposed reforms was to ensure that government policies translated into tangible improvements in the lives of ordinary Nigerians.
“We want Nigerians to feel the impact of our policies, and that is precisely what we intend to address,” he added.
