Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has said his decision to contest the January 16 presidential election on the platform of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) is driven by a desire to reset Nigeria, reduce inequality and establish a genuine government of national unity.

Makinde stated this during a live radio programme on Sunday, expressing confidence in his chances while questioning the gains of 27 years of uninterrupted democratic rule since 1999.

He identified economic stagnation, excessive centralisation of power and deteriorating infrastructure as major challenges, arguing that Nigeria needed urgent structural reforms.

Explaining his choice of the APM, the governor said he would rely on his record in Oyo State and the grassroots structure of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which he likened to a vehicle for reaching the electorate. He maintained that the APM had the necessary structure for his presidential ambition.

Makinde rated his administration’s performance at 80 per cent, citing investments in infrastructure, education, teacher recruitment and regional economic integration involving Iseyin and Ogbomoso.

He also disclosed plans to pay between ₦6 billion and ₦7 billion in compensation to property owners along the Ibadan Circular Road corridor before the end of October, describing the project as important to the state’s economic transformation.

The governor acknowledged that some projects, including the Agbowo Shopping Complex, could cost about ₦21 billion and extend beyond his tenure.

On succession politics, Makinde rejected suggestions that he intended to become a political godfather, insisting that he would not impose a successor on the state.

He also advocated true federalism, state police and local government autonomy, arguing that economic productivity should take precedence over dependence on declining federal allocations.

Makinde urged Nigerians to make informed choices ahead of the 2027 general election and assess his administration based on its record in Oyo State.