Engr. Seyi Makinde, the governor of Oyo State and presidential candidate for the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) in the 2027 general elections, called for a review of Nigeria’s electoral process during a live interview on Bauchi Radio Corporation (BRC) in Bauchi on Friday night. The interview was part of the launch of his campaign, which is set to flag off on Saturday.
Makinde cited the 2023 presidential election, in which President Bola Tinubu secured just over 34 per cent of the total votes cast, as evidence that the current system allows a winner to emerge without majority support. “In Nigeria, under the constitution today, to become the president, you can score 33 per cent of the votes. So that means 67 per cent of the people can vote against you,” he said.
He explained that the existing constitutional provision permits a candidate to win with 33 per cent of the vote and a 25 per cent share in two‑thirds of the states, including the Federal Capital Territory. “If you have a simple majority and you have 25 per cent in two‑thirds of the states of the federation plus FCT, then you become the president,” Makinde added.
Proposed Electoral Reform
Makinde argued that requiring presidential candidates to secure at least 50 per cent plus one of the total votes would give the winner a broader mandate and strengthen public acceptance of the government. “The outcome of the 2023 election showed that the majority of voters supported candidates other than the eventual winner,” he said.
Beyond electoral reforms, Makinde proposed a transitional government of national unity, stating that the country needs an inclusive administration to address challenges across different regions. “We have challenges almost all over the country,” he said. “Our transitional government of national unity will bring together diverse voices.”
He disclosed that he had visited all six geopolitical zones before launching his state‑by‑state campaign to listen to Nigerians and understand their expectations. “I came out before this state‑by‑state campaign that we're launching; we flagging off tomorrow. I went to all six geopolitical zones of the country, listening to people. They gave us their concerns and aspirations, and we've incorporated all of that in the manifesto,” he said.
Makinde’s reset agenda for the 2027 election focuses on the economy, security, education and social policies, according to his statements. The APM platform aims to address these priorities through inclusive governance and broader electoral legitimacy.
<small>Source: Daily Post Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>