The presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Seyi Makinde, has urged voters in the South-East to reject ethnic and religious divisions when making their choices in the 2027 general election.
Makinde made the appeal on Thursday during the APM South-East town hall meeting in Enugu, where he acknowledged the strong political support enjoyed by the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, in the region.
The Oyo State governor disclosed that his campaign team was initially discouraged from visiting the South-East because of the widespread belief that the region was firmly behind Obi.
However, he said the party decided to take its message to the region regardless of the political influence of the former Anambra State governor.
Makinde urged the people to assess political candidates based on their plans and ability to address the country’s challenges rather than their ethnic or religious backgrounds.
He maintained that issues such as poverty, hunger, unemployment and insecurity affect Nigerians across different communities and religious groups.
Presenting his proposed agenda, the APM candidate identified four major areas of focus: the economy, security, education and the country’s socio-political structure.
He said his administration, if elected, would prioritise rebuilding public trust in government, creating opportunities for young people and establishing an environment where businesses could grow.
Makinde also explained that his campaign team had delayed releasing its manifesto because it wanted to consult Nigerians across the six geopolitical zones and understand their expectations.
He announced that the party would complete the document following its final town hall meeting in the South-East and unveil it on November 4, 2026.
The APM candidate expressed confidence that the proposed manifesto would reflect the concerns raised by Nigerians during the consultations and outline solutions to the country’s major challenges.
