Oyo State Governor and presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Seyi Makinde, has criticised the Federal Government’s major road projects, arguing that priority should be given to rehabilitating existing roads across the country.

Makinde spoke at the unveiling of APM National Assembly candidates in Osun State, where he was represented by a member of the party’s Elders Forum in Oyo State, Tunde Tijani.

The governor said an APM administration would focus on projects with direct benefits to Nigerians rather than commit resources to what he described as unnecessary large-scale infrastructure projects.

He cited the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the Badagry-Sokoto road, which he described as wasteful projects, and said an APM government would review such projects if elected.

“What we are saying is constructing new road projects, legacy roads, is of no use when the existing roads are death traps,” Makinde said.

He said his administration’s approach to road construction in Oyo State had focused on strategically connecting different parts of the state before addressing internal roads.

“When you get to Oyo State, you will see how strategic the roads construction are linked, Oke-Ogun areas linked to Ogbomoso, Ibadan to Ibarapa before embarking on internal roads and we have been successful.

“That is the type of policy and programmes we will introduce if you vote APM and Makinde as the President of Nigeria in January 2027,” he said.

Makinde also called on Nigerian youths to become more involved in politics, saying their participation was essential to influencing leadership and government policies.

Speaking after the presentation of candidates, the APM candidate for Osun Central Senatorial District, Dr Ibrahim Adekunle, said the party was creating opportunities for young Nigerians to participate in governance.

Adekunle urged youths to seek elective positions and become more active in the political process.

“It is time to relegate the older politicians from political offices. I want to charge the youth to use me as the beginning of this,” he said.

He also called on young Nigerians to demand accountability from elected representatives rather than plead for basic responsibilities to be fulfilled.

“We must stop begging and pleading for what is truly ours from the political office holders. I am one of you and I know and understand your plights. I am ready to represent you well in the Senate if elected,” he said.

Adekunle urged voters, particularly youths, to reject political violence and support peaceful elections in 2027.

“Let us eschew politics of bitterness and violence, but let us embrace peaceful election for the emergence of all the candidates of our party in 2027,” he said.

Earlier, the Osun State APM Chairman, Adewale Adebayo, called for increased mobilisation of youths ahead of the 2027 elections.

He said the party had fielded young candidates it considered capable of contributing to governance and increasing youth representation in elective offices.