The presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement, Seyi Makinde, has urged Nigerians to collect money offered by politicians during election campaigns but vote according to their conscience.
Makinde gave the advice on Saturday at the flag-off of his presidential campaign in Bauchi State, where he encouraged supporters not to allow financial inducements to determine their choice of candidates in the 2027 general elections.
The Oyo State governor told supporters that accepting money from politicians should not prevent them from voting for their preferred candidates.
“Don’t bother at all. When they bring money, it is your money, collect it, but vote your heart and I know your heart is with us and APM,” he said.
Makinde, who is campaigning on the party’s proposed Reset Nigeria agenda, urged Nigerians dissatisfied with the country’s current economic, security and political conditions to support his presidential ambition.
He said his administration, if elected, would work towards restructuring the economy, improving the country’s security architecture and creating a more inclusive political environment.
The governor argued that Nigerians deserved a government capable of addressing their challenges with sincerity and transparency.
“If you are not happy with the way things are in our country today, if you are not happy that there is no enough inclusivity, if you are not happy that your government cannot tell you the truth, they cannot handle our issues with sincerity, then there is only one path for us and the path is to reset Nigeria,” he said.
He subsequently urged supporters to identify with his proposed agenda and participate actively in the political process.
Also speaking at the rally, the party’s vice-presidential candidate, Lawal Daura, said the politics of lies, deceit and hypocrisy posed a threat to Nigeria’s democracy.
Daura said the APM’s proposed agenda was designed to address the challenges and promote honesty and sincerity in governance.
Similarly, the party’s national leader and Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, expressed support for Makinde’s presidential ambition.
Mohammed described the Oyo governor as hardworking and committed to inclusive leadership, saying his record in governance informed his decision to support his candidacy.
The campaign rally attracted party supporters and leaders dressed in the party’s colours, alongside the party’s national chairman and other political stakeholders.
