Ahead of the 2027 general election, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed and other opposition figures have begun efforts to rally Nigerians around a proposed plan to reset the country.
The political figures gathered in Abuja on Monday for the inauguration of the Allied Peoples Movement presidential campaign office, where they presented the Reset Nigeria agenda and expressed confidence that Nigerians would have the opportunity to freely choose their leaders at the next election.
Makinde, who is the APM presidential candidate, used the occasion to reject calls for the return of the petrol subsidy. Instead, he proposed that crude oil supplied to local refineries should be priced in a way that reflects Nigeria’s status as an oil-producing country.
The governor argued that making locally produced crude available to Nigerian refineries at a fair domestic price could help reduce the cost of petrol without returning to the previous subsidy system.
Petrol subsidy was removed by President Bola Tinubu shortly after he assumed office on May 29, 2023. The decision resulted in a sharp increase in petrol prices and contributed to higher transportation and living costs across the country.
The Federal Government has continued to defend the policy, saying the removal has helped reduce pressure on public finances and created room for other economic measures.
The subsidy debate has returned to the political space ahead of the 2027 election. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who is now associated with the African Democratic Congress, has promised to restore the subsidy if elected, saying the move would reduce the burden created by its removal.
Makinde, however, offered a different approach. He questioned why crude produced in Nigeria should be sold to domestic refineries under pricing arrangements that could make locally refined petrol more expensive.
The governor said Nigeria’s crude resources should provide direct benefits to citizens and called for greater openness in the petroleum sector.
He proposed transparency from the point where crude is produced and allocated for domestic refining through refining, transportation, distribution, taxation and retail sales.
Makinde said Nigerians should be able to understand how the final price of petrol is determined, including the costs involved and the parties that benefit at each stage of the process.
He said the benefit of Nigeria’s crude should be built into the pricing system before petrol reaches the filling station instead of relying on unclear government interventions after several costs have already been added.
According to him, the Reset Nigeria agenda is built around changing systems that Nigerians cannot properly understand or monitor.
Makinde said government decisions and the management of public resources should be open enough for citizens to follow and question where necessary.
The governor also called on Nigerians from different sectors to take part in the political movement, saying the proposed reset should not be left to politicians.
He said traders, farmers, workers, business owners, young people and other Nigerians affected by rising costs and economic hardship should have a voice in deciding the direction of the country.
Makinde also addressed doubts about his presidential ambition, recalling that similar doubts had followed his first attempt to become governor of Oyo State.
He said established political forces had previously made his chances appear difficult, but voters eventually gave him the opportunity to lead the state.
He argued that dismissing his presidential campaign would amount to ignoring the aspirations of millions of Nigerians who want better living conditions and a more accountable government.
Former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, who is also seeking the presidency, backed the call for cooperation among opposition figures.
Obi said political leaders should focus on finding solutions to the country’s problems instead of allowing personal disagreements to divide them.
He described Makinde as qualified to seek the presidency and said Nigerians should be allowed to decide who leads them through a free, fair and credible election.
Obi said whoever wins such an election should receive the support of other political leaders because the country’s challenges require collective effort.
He listed poverty, hunger and insecurity among the major problems confronting Nigerians and said the political system should be redirected towards improving the lives of citizens.
The former governor called for a change from politics driven by quarrels and division to politics focused on providing food, reducing poverty and creating opportunities for ordinary Nigerians.
He also expressed support for a Nigeria where people can succeed based on their abilities rather than their political connections or family background.
Bala Mohammed, the Bauchi State Governor and national leader of the APM, also backed Makinde’s presidential bid and warned political opponents against underestimating the campaign.
Mohammed praised Makinde’s record in Oyo State, particularly his management of public resources and development projects.
He described the Oyo governor as an experienced administrator with a background in engineering, the private sector and the oil and gas industry.
Mohammed said Makinde had shown the ability to achieve results despite operating with limited resources and argued that his experience would be useful at the national level.
He also praised Makinde’s efforts in both urban and rural development and described the APM as an alternative platform for Nigerians looking for a different approach to governance.
Mohammed said the party was focused on strategic leadership, responsible management of public funds and accountability.
He expressed confidence that an administration led by Makinde would provide Nigerians with better opportunities and create conditions where citizens could pursue their goals.
Former Niger State Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu also called for stronger cooperation among opposition parties and presidential candidates ahead of the 2027 election.
Aliyu, who serves as Secretary to the Tanimu Turaki-led PDP Board of Trustees, said opposition leaders needed to work together if they wanted to present a stronger alternative to the ruling party.
He linked the country’s security challenges to problems in other sectors, arguing that education, agriculture and economic development would remain difficult without adequate security.
The former governor said previous opposition meetings had already taken place in Ibadan and Abuja and called for further discussions aimed at producing a common direction before the election.
He said opposition leaders would eventually need to agree on a candidate capable of receiving broad support from the various groups.
The National Chairman of the APM, Yusuf Dantalle, said the launch of the campaign office marked the start of the party’s effort to take its Reset Nigeria message across the country.
Dantalle said the party planned to run a campaign centred on issues, competence and practical solutions rather than personal attacks and political bitterness.
He presented the Makinde and Lawal Daura presidential ticket as an option for Nigerians seeking better governance, stronger security and economic growth.
Dantalle also said the party would make the fight against insecurity a major part of its campaign.
He said an APM government would seek to create an environment where Nigerians could travel, work, farm and conduct business without constant fear of kidnapping or terrorist attacks.
He urged Nigerians to support the party’s candidates during the 2027 elections and described the election as an opportunity to pursue a stronger and more united country.
The APM chairman also praised Daura, the party’s vice-presidential candidate, for his previous experience in the country’s security sector.
He said the party would focus its campaign on practical policies and avoid the politics of hatred and division.
The Abuja event attracted several political figures, including Lawal Daura, former Osun State Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola, lawmakers, members of the APM Board of Trustees, members of the party’s National Working Committee and other party supporters.
The gathering comes as political activity begins to increase ahead of the 2027 general election, with opposition groups searching for ways to work together and challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress.
The Reset Nigeria campaign is expected to focus on economic hardship, insecurity, transparency, management of national resources and the need for stronger cooperation among opposition politicians.
With the 2027 election approaching, the growing alliance around Makinde and Obi could become part of wider efforts by opposition figures to build a common political platform and give Nigerians an alternative to the current administration.