2027: Makinde proposes minimum 51% threshold for presidential victory

…rules out personal benefit from proposed constitutional changes, backs transitional government By Soni Daniel & Luminous Jannamike ABUJA — Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, on Wednesday proposed a minimum 50 per cent-plus-one vote threshold for presidential elections, saying Nigeria needs a political system that compels presidential candidates to secure broader national support before assuming office.

Makinde, who unveiled the Reset Nigeria Manifesto in Abuja, also declared that he would not personally benefit from any constitutional and political arrangements that might emerge from his proposed transitional government, insisting that the process must not be manipulated to serve the interests of its promoters. He said the proposed electoral threshold would encourage political parties to build alliances across ethnic, religious and regional divisions, while a transitional government would provide a platform for Nigerians to negotiate a new political and constitutional direction.

Offering himself as a test of his commitment to the proposed reforms, Makinde said: “Today, Wednesday, November 4, 2026, I offer myself as a guinea pig by announcing to Nigerians that whatever constitutional and political arrangements we eventually develop, I will not be a beneficiary. “If I intend to benefit personally from the arrangements, there is a possibility that manipulation could set in.

But I do not want that to happen.” Explaining the proposed presidential election threshold, the governor argued that candidates should secure sufficient national support to command the respect of the majority rather than emerge through an electoral arrangement that leaves most voters behind. “What we are proposing is that, to become President of Nigeria, a candidate must secure at least 50 per cent plus one vote,” Makinde said.

“That way, candidates and political parties will have to engage in discussions across party lines and other divisions to secure the support needed to form a government that commands the respect of the majority of Nigerians.” He identified four fundamental concerns behind his Reset Agenda: the prioritisation of macroeconomic reforms over broad-based economic growth; failure by governments to accept responsibility for results; weak institutions undermined by divisions and bribery; and the exclusion of millions of poor Nigerians from government decisions.

Makinde criticised the emphasis on macroeconomic reforms without corresponding improvements in the living conditions of ordinary Nigerians, insisting that economic stability must translate into affordable food, employment, improved incomes and a lower cost of living. “My simple proposition is that government must make life easier for the people. That is all,” he said.

Questioning the value of economic stability that does not improve household welfare, he added: “What does macroeconomic stability mean if it does not improve the living conditions of ordinary Nigerians?” The governor identified high energy costs as one of the structural problems undermining Nigerian businesses, particularly manufacturers dependent on diesel-powered generators.

“For instance, no matter how hard I try, a manufacturer who relies on generators powered by diesel will continue to incur high production costs. We must make it possible for manufacturers to connect to the national electricity grid and access electricity at a lower cost,” he said. He also questioned how the country was managing increased crude oil revenues, arguing that rising international oil prices should produce measurable benefits for Nigerians rather than simply increase government allocations.

Makinde, who said he had spent much of his working life in the oil and gas industry, recalled his personal journey from Ibadan to Port-Harcourt in search of opportunities in 1990. “I left Ibadan in early October 1990 with just a bag containing a few belongings, perhaps two pairs of trousers, three or four shirts and a book. The only thing I had was the fare to travel to Kaduna with my degree,” he recalled.

He said he eventually secured employment, established a business, raised a family and built his life, experiences that informed his conviction that government policies must create opportunities for ordinary Nigerians. On accountability, Makinde promised that his proposed administration would establish measurable performance targets within its first 100 days and make its achievements subject to public scrutiny.

Electricity & Petroleum Pricing He also faulted the Federal Government’s handling of the electricity sector, arguing that the transfer of regulatory powers to states should not become an excuse for abandoning national responsibilities. “Yes, but should a baby that has just been born start crawling, walking and running at the same time?” he asked. He maintained that while states should develop their electricity markets according to their capacities, the Federal Government must continue to manage national electricity assets and ad