Judge 2027 candidates by records, ideas – Makinde urges voters

Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has outlined his strategy for the 2027 presidential election, emphasizing a focus on resetting Nigeria and prioritizing the interests of Nigerians above all else. In a recent newsletter, Makinde described the campaign as an opportunity for Nigerians to engage in discussions about the country's challenges, future, and leadership requirements. He stated, "For me, this campaign will be about putting Nigerians first."

Makinde pledged to visit the six geopolitical zones in the coming months, meeting stakeholders, presenting his ideas, and listening to the concerns of ordinary Nigerians. He identified various groups, including low-income workers, struggling business owners, farmers facing security and market access issues, job-seeking youth, and families longing for safety, as key constituents he would hear from directly.

Makinde is developing a manifesto, dubbed "The Reset Agenda," which is currently under review by stakeholders. This manifesto aims to tackle critical issues such as security, the economy, the rising cost of living, and food security. He emphasized that the manifesto would outline the implementation, funding, and evaluation methods of his proposed policies.

In urging voters, Makinde stressed the importance of evaluating candidates based on their records, ideas, and capacity to deliver results, rather than being swayed by slogans, personal charisma, or political theatrics. He concluded by urging voters to prioritize substantive debate and practical solutions over superficial campaigning.