Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, has launched a fresh attack on the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, over the lingering crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), accusing him of openly working against the party’s interests.
Makinde made the remarks during a media chat with journalists, where he recounted a recent meeting involving President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Wike, and the President’s Chief of Staff.
According to the Oyo governor, Wike shocked those present when he allegedly declared his intention to “hold PDP” for President Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“The real issue is that I was with President Tinubu and Wike, and I’m saying this in an open chat. The President’s Chief of Staff was also in that meeting,” Makinde said.
“Wike said he would hold PDP for President Tinubu in 2027. I was in shock. When we got to the veranda, I asked him, ‘Wike, did we agree to this?’”
Makinde stressed that while Wike has the constitutional right to support any candidate of his choice, openly pledging PDP’s support to a rival party’s president was unacceptable and damaging to the opposition party.
“He wants to support the President in the 2027 elections. That’s fine. It’s his right to do that,” Makinde said. “But dragging the PDP into it is a different matter.”
The Oyo governor also dismissed suggestions that his criticism of Wike was personal, insisting he had no interest in engaging in political feuds.
“I don’t beef anybody,” Makinde said, while making reference to his personal achievements, noting that he had built a successful career long before entering politics
“Within one year, I made $1 million in my pocket. I was 29 in 1997. At that time, Wike perhaps had just left law school, and his next job was as a local government chairman,” he stated.
Makinde’s comments have added fresh fuel to the deepening crisis within the PDP, which has been grappling with internal divisions following the 2023 general elections and Wike’s continued alliance with the ruling All Progressives Congress-led federal government.
Wike, a former governor of Rivers State and a key figure in the G5 governors’ bloc, has repeatedly defended his cooperation with President Tinubu, insisting it is in the national interest.
