Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has alleged that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, offered to “hold down” the Peoples Democratic Party to pave the way for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.
Makinde made the claim on Tuesday during a media interaction in Ibadan, where he spoke extensively on the lingering crisis within the PDP and his strained relationship with the former Rivers State governor.
According to Makinde, the alleged offer was made by Wike during a meeting attended by President Tinubu and other political actors, a revelation he said left him shocked.
“I was in a meeting with President Tinubu, Nyesom Wike and others when Wike volunteered to hold the PDP for Tinubu ahead of 2027. I was in shock,” Makinde said.
While stressing that Wike was entitled to his political decisions, the Oyo governor made it clear that he would not be part of any arrangement aimed at weakening his party.
“Wike can support the President in 2027, but I will not,” he stated firmly.
Makinde further disclosed that he openly told President Tinubu that he could not assist the All Progressives Congress in Oyo State, citing his loyalty to the PDP.
“I said, no sir, I can never help you organise the APC in Oyo State because I am of the PDP,” he said.
The governor explained that the root of the conflict between him and the FCT minister was his refusal to align with Wike, despite both belonging to the opposition party, to support Tinubu’s re-election bid.
“The real issue is that Wike wants to support the President for 2027. That is within his right. But some of us want to ensure that democracy survives in Nigeria and that the PDP also survives,” Makinde said.
He revealed that efforts to resolve the dispute quietly failed, forcing him to confront Wike directly.
“I tried to engage him through a mutual friend, but when he did not back off, I confronted him. From that day, I made it clear I would never be part of this,” he added.
Makinde warned against actions capable of turning Nigeria into a one-party state, insisting that his stance was driven by the need to preserve democratic plurality.
“Some of us want to ensure that we don’t drift into a one-party system. Democracy must survive, and the PDP must survive,” he said.
He also stated that President Tinubu had the constitutional authority to restrain any minister whose actions threatened democratic stability.
“The President has the power to call his minister to order and allow democracy to survive in Nigeria,” Makinde said.
Reacting to claims of factionalisation within the PDP, the Oyo governor dismissed such assertions, insisting that the party remained united.
“Where the PDP is today, there is no faction. We held a convention here in Ibadan and gave adequate notice to INEC, which is all that the law requires,” he said.
Makinde’s comments come amid deepening internal tensions within the PDP, as the party grapples with leadership disputes and accusations of covert alliances ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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