By Paul Joseph
The campaign organisation promoting Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde for the 2027 presidential election has identified 12 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as areas where it believes the governor can defeat President Bola Tinubu.
The organisation, which is backing Makinde under the platform of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), listed Rivers, Oyo, Kaduna, Plateau, Borno, Enugu, Bauchi, Sokoto, Delta, Kano, Adamawa and Lagos states among its targeted battlegrounds.
In a statement issued by its Director of Strategic Communications, Hon. Richard Nnanna Ihediwa, the campaign dismissed expectations that Tinubu’s planned visits to the states would improve his chances of securing re-election.
It attributed the alleged growing opposition to the President to economic hardship and dissatisfaction with the policies of the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration.
The organisation also accused members of Tinubu’s inner circle of contributing to public discontent through what it described as political arrogance.
According to the campaign, Makinde’s RESET NIGERIA agenda is gaining traction across the country, particularly among young people seeking an alternative to the ruling party.
It challenged Tinubu to assess the living conditions of Nigerians and the state of public infrastructure instead of relying solely on political rallies and mobilisation ahead of the election.
“Mr. President should know that his visit to these states, if he eventually does, will not in any way change the direction or the determination of the people to vote him out,” the statement said.
The organisation further urged the President to travel by road across the country to witness the condition of federal highways, public infrastructure and the living conditions of citizens.
It alleged that the administration had spent trillions of naira on programmes and projects it considered wasteful while Nigerians continued to grapple with economic difficulties.
The campaign also dismissed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, arguing that Makinde’s RESET NIGERIA programme would offer a more practical approach to addressing the country’s economic, security and governance challenges.
It said the proposed programme would be anchored on an inclusive, four-year transitional government of national unity, with education, the economy, security and socio-political reforms as its four priority areas.
On the economy, the organisation said the agenda would prioritise increased production as a strategy to reduce poverty.
It added that Makinde’s proposed security framework would combine intelligence gathering with social reorientation, using both kinetic and non-kinetic approaches to address insecurity.
The education component, according to the statement, would focus on expanding access to quality and functional education, while institutional reforms would promote inclusive governance and responsible leadership.
The campaign maintained that feedback from its activities indicated growing acceptance of the RESET NIGERIA message, particularly among young Nigerians.
It also criticised members of Tinubu’s campaign machinery, describing them as failed politicians and arguing that incumbency would not guarantee the President’s victory in the targeted states.
Wike Stakes Position on Tinubu’s Victory
The development comes amid political manoeuvring ahead of the 2027 presidential election, with Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, previously declaring that he would take responsibility if Tinubu lost Rivers State and the FCT.
In September, Wike vowed to resign as FCT minister if the President failed to win the two areas in the 2027 election.
He made the declaration while addressing members and leaders of the Apo Mechanics and Traders Association in Abuja, where he spoke about his commitment to Tinubu’s re-election and efforts to mobilise political support.
The former Rivers State governor said his position as FCT minister carried a responsibility to help secure victory for the President, particularly in the territory where he currently serves.
“If I cannot deliver where I work, then I’m not worthy to be here,” Wike said.
He added: “If I lose FCT, I’m not supposed to be FCT Minister. By January 17, 2027, I will announce my resignation as FCT Minister should the President lose in Rivers State and the FCT.”
Makinde’s camp has, however, maintained that its candidate could challenge Tinubu’s re-election bid in the states it identified, although the outcome of the contest will ultimately depend on voters’ decisions in the 2027 presidential election.
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