The camp of Seyi Makinde has vowed that its candidate, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, will defeat President Bola Tinubu in 12 battleground states during the January 2027 presidential election.

The campaign organisation, which is promoting Makinde under the platform of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), named Rivers, Oyo, Kaduna, Plateau, Borno, Enugu, Bauchi, Sokoto, Delta, Kano, Adamawa and Lagos states, as well as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, among the areas where it expects to defeat the President.

In a statement issued by its Director of Strategic Communications, Hon. Richard Nnanna Ihediwa, the organisation argued that Tinubu’s planned visits to the states would not change what it described as growing opposition to his re-election.

The campaign attributed the alleged resentment to the economic hardship facing Nigerians under the current administration, accusing the President’s policies and members of his inner circle of worsening public dissatisfaction through political arrogance.

The organisation also claimed that Makinde’s RESET NIGERIA agenda was gaining support across the country, particularly among young Nigerians seeking an alternative to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

It challenged Tinubu to engage directly with Nigerians and assess their living conditions rather than rely on campaign rallies and political 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 campaign organisation urged Tinubu to travel by road through the states to witness the condition of federal highways, public infrastructure and the living conditions of citizens.

“We challenge President Tinubu not to have a change of mind but visit the states to face the people. He should travel around the country by road and witness the decrepit state of federal highways, the squalor in which Nigerians live and the level of infrastructural decay across the country,” it added.

The organisation accused the Tinubu administration of spending trillions of naira on what it described as wasteful programmes and projects while ordinary Nigerians continue to face economic difficulties.

It also dismissed the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda, arguing that Makinde’s RESET NIGERIA programme would provide a more practical response to the country’s economic, security and governance challenges.

According to the organisation, the proposed programme would be built around an inclusive, four-year transitional government of national unity, with education, the economy, security and socio-political reforms identified as its four priority areas.

The campaign said Makinde’s economic plan would focus on increasing production to address poverty, while his security strategy would combine intelligence gathering with social reorientation and both kinetic and non-kinetic approaches.

On education, the organisation said the agenda would seek to expand access to quality and functional education. Its proposed institutional reforms would also promote inclusive governance and responsible leadership.

The organisation maintained that feedback from its campaign activities indicated that the RESET NIGERIA message was gaining acceptance, especially among young people who, it claimed, were increasingly looking towards Makinde for an alternative to the current administration.

It also criticised members of Tinubu’s campaign machinery, urging the President not to commit national resources to what it called his “Nebuchadnezzar” campaign council.

The organisation described the council’s members as failed politicians and argued that neither the President’s campaign structure nor the advantages of incumbency would prevent his defeat in the states it had identified.

Recall that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, had declared that he would take responsibility if Tinubu failed to win both the FCT and Rivers State.

In September, Wike vowed to resign from his position as FCT Minister if the President lost Rivers State and the FCT in the 2027 presidential election.

Wike made the declaration while addressing members and leaders of the Apo Mechanics and Traders Association in Abuja, where he discussed his commitment to Tinubu’s re-election and the political arrangements being developed to mobilise support for the President.

The former Rivers State governor said his position as FCT Minister carried a political responsibility to help secure victory for Tinubu, 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.

“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,” he added.

Nigerian FIFA futsal referee Ojeleye John Tope has secured another officiating assignment at the 2026 Futsal Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, with the Lagos-based official scheduled to serve as second referee in Saturday’s encounter between Mozambique and Tanzania.

The match, billed for 9pm on October 17, will mark Ojeleye’s second assignment at the continental championship, following his involvement in Tanzania’s 6-0 defeat to Angola in his opening game.

The latest appointment represents another important milestone for the Nigerian official, who continues to gain valuable experience on the African stage.

Ojeleye earned his place among the tournament officials after successfully completing the Confederation of African Football (CAF) pre-tournament physical fitness examinations in Morocco.

He passed the assessments alongside fellow Nigerian referee Bello Al Hassan Zuru, with both officials meeting the required standards following intensive training and rigorous evaluations.

Announcing their achievement earlier, the duo expressed pride in representing Nigeria at the continental tournament.

“This achievement reflects our dedication, discipline, commitment to excellence and determination to represent Nigeria with honour on the continental stage,” they stated.

Ojeleye, who earned his FIFA futsal badge in 2025 and retained it in 2026, has continued to build his international officiating profile through continental assignments.

His appointment as second referee for the Mozambique–Tanzania encounter provides another opportunity to demonstrate his understanding of the game, decision-making ability and professionalism.

The Nigerian officials had earlier pledged to uphold the highest standards throughout the championship.

“We are grateful for this opportunity and look forward to contributing to the success of the tournament through professionalism, fairness and excellence in officiating,” they declared.

With his first assignment completed, attention now turns to Ojeleye’s performance in Saturday’s fixture.

The back-to-back appointments underline Ojeleye’s growing involvement in continental futsal officiating and provide another opportunity for Nigerian refereeing to gain recognition at the international level.