…Demands release of petroleum pricing template
Seyi Makinde, the presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples’ Movement, has promised to establish a transitional government of national unity if elected President in 2027, pledging that his administration would not remain in office beyond four years.
Makinde also criticised the President Bola Tinubu-led administration over what he described as its failure to deliver on electricity, energy security and other campaign promises, saying the 2027 election would mark the end of what he called the politics of “lies and deceit.”
The APM presidential candidate spoke at the party’s North-East town hall meeting in Yola, Adamawa State, where he said his proposed government would be inclusive and committed to addressing Nigeria’s economic and security challenges.
“I stand before you today to tell you that the government you will put in place from May 29, 2027, will be a transitional government of national unity. Our government will not last beyond four years. And it will be an all-inclusive government,” Makinde said.
Read also: 2027 election will end political lies, deceit — Makinde
He said his engagements with stakeholders across the North-West, North-Central and North-East had revealed common concerns, particularly insecurity, poverty, electricity shortages and the rising cost of living.
“I have listened to you, the stakeholders in this room. I have listened to you, our candidates in this room. The issues are the same,” he said.
Makinde argued that the challenges confronting Nigerians required urgent and practical solutions rather than political rhetoric, accusing the current administration of failing to fulfil its promises.
“The current administration came in and told us that it had the magic wand to solve the challenges confronting us. As a matter of fact, the President said that if he failed to fix electricity for Nigeria in four years, Nigerians should not vote for him again.
“So, we are all aware that they have failed to provide electricity and other things they promised. So, I believe we all know how to cast our ballots,” he said.
He also faulted the Federal Government’s policies on compressed natural gas and electric vehicles, as well as the naira-for-crude initiative, describing them as unsuccessful.
Makinde’s criticism came as he demanded that the Federal Government publish its petroleum pricing template to enable Nigerians to understand how the current pump prices were determined.
He said the government should make the figures and calculations behind petroleum pricing available for public scrutiny, arguing that citizens outside government could also contribute ideas towards resolving the country’s economic difficulties.
“They came up with the presidential policy on CNG and electric vehicles. That policy failed. They came up with the naira-for-crude initiative. That policy also failed. Yesterday, I listened to the Minister of Finance on television. He said they are now adopting price modulation for petroleum products,” he said.
The APM candidate added, “We are asking for only two things. We do not want too much grammar; we just want relief for Nigerians.
“So, we ask the Federal Government to release its pricing template so that citizens will know how they arrived at the current petroleum price and let Nigerians see how things go. If they have a better solution, they will present it.”
Makinde maintained that government officials should not assume they had a monopoly on ideas for resolving the country’s problems.
Read also: 2027: We can reset Nigeria in four years, Makinde says
“The fact that you are in government or the Presidential Villa does not make you the only Nigerians with sense. We have other citizens who can dissect issues and proffer solutions.
“So, please make your pricing template available to all, and we will make our input,” he said.
He pledged that an APM-led administration would pursue solutions through public consultation, transparency and what he described as sincerity in governance.
“There are many problems this government has failed to solve. So, we need to solve our internal problems. My promise to you, the North-East and the people of Nigeria is this: we will be sincere in finding solutions to the challenges that we are faced with.
“We will not play politics. We will not undermine your rights. We will ensure that we tell you the exact truth. We will listen to you. Solutions can come from anywhere,” he said.
Makinde said the party had deliberately delayed releasing its manifesto to allow it to gather contributions from stakeholders across the country.
“Our manifesto is on the way. We have deliberately delayed its release because we wanted to hear from you at this level. I will listen to you, and we promise that we will find new solutions to the problems we are faced with as a nation,” he said.
He added that the proposed national unity government was intended to address concerns about the concentration of political power in one part of the country at the expense of other regions.
The candidate said the administration would seek to accommodate different sections of the country, particularly amid concerns about inclusion and equitable representation.
Makinde’s pledge places the proposed duration and composition of an APM government at the centre of its campaign message ahead of the 2027 general election.
Bala Mohammed, the party’s national leader and Bauchi State Governor, also called on Nigerians to take the party seriously, describing it as an emerging political force with elected officeholders and experienced members.
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“APM is the number one opposition party in the country. We have two governors and other elected leaders. Whether we like it or not, we are a force to reckon with. We are a force to reckon with. Whoever does not reckon with us is going to do so at his or her peril,” Mohammed said.
He said the party was prepared to contribute to Makinde’s aspiration and expressed support for the principles of inclusivity, patriotism and equal opportunity.
“We believe in Nigeria. We believe in the Nigerian state. We are patriots. We believe in giving people opportunities from all sections of the country. We believe in inclusivity and mutual respect. We believe in non-tribal initiatives, and we believe you have the capacity to reset Nigeria,” the governor said.
Mohammed added that although he wished the party had been discovered earlier, he believed it was not too late to build its national profile.
“I can see people trooping into our party. I wish we had started this earlier, and I wish we had discovered APM a long time ago. But God’s time is the best. We are still not late,” he said.
The party’s vice-presidential candidate, Lawal Daura, said the APM intended to present itself as an alternative to the existing political order, arguing that Nigeria needed fundamental changes in the way it was governed.
Daura described the party as one committed to honesty and public service, saying it opposed what he called a culture of political deceit.
“First, it is a party populated by honest, patriotic people. It is a party whose root cry is against lies. It is not a party of deceit or of anything goes. Rather, APM is a party that is so serious about work. With the permission of my presidential candidate, I always say we are ready to reset Nigeria,” he said.
He argued that Nigeria risked continuing to expend efforts without achieving meaningful progress if the underlying problems confronting the country were not addressed.
“The situation in Nigeria, as you must have heard before and as you are likely to subsequently hear and know the details, is that Nigeria needs to reset. Otherwise, we will continue to be in motion but without movement. And we are here to set such things right,” Daura said.
He acknowledged that the task would be difficult but said the party was determined to pursue its proposed changes.
“It is not an easy task, and it will only require very serious-minded Nigerians to be in APM. But we are determined to reset Nigeria for the good of all,” he added.
Read also: 2027: APM moves to consolidate Lagos, South-West support for Makinde
The town hall meeting formed part of the APM’s consultations ahead of the 2027 general election, during which Makinde said the party would listen to concerns from different parts of the country before finalising its manifesto.
According to figures provided at the event, Nigeria has 103,428,715 registered voters. The North-West has the highest number, with 25,083,411, followed by the South-West with 19,614,274 and the North-Central with 16,965,787.
The South-South has 15,823,550 registered voters, while the North-East has 13,965,475 and the South-East has 11,976,218.
The figures underscore the scale of the electorate the parties will seek to reach as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 polls.
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