Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has drawn a clear political line ahead of the 2027 general elections, declaring that he will not support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re election bid, a stance that exposes widening cracks within the Peoples Democratic Party PDP and deepens his rift with Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike.
Speaking during a media chat on Tuesday in Ibadan, Makinde framed his position not just as a personal choice, but as a defence of party autonomy and Nigeria’s multiparty democracy.
Reflecting on his early career, the governor recalled securing a one million dollar contract with Mobil at the age of 29, a milestone he said shaped his confidence and independence long before his foray into politics. He contrasted this with Wike’s trajectory at the time, noting that the FCT minister was likely just leaving law school.
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The governor said the underlying tension between him and Wike became explicit during a meeting involving President Tinubu, Wike, Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila and other senior officials.
According to Makinde, Wike told the President he would “hold the PDP” for him ahead of the 2027 elections, a comment he said left him stunned.
“The President did not ask him to do this. He volunteered it,” Makinde said. “Wike is within his rights to support Tinubu, but those of us who want to ensure the survival of multiparty democracy and the PDP should also be allowed to make our own decisions.”
Makinde said he made his position clear from that moment, despite attempts to engage Wike privately to resolve their differences.
“I told him from that day that I would never be part of this,” he said. “Wike can support Tinubu, and that is within his right, but it is equally my right to decide who I will support and what role I will play in 2027.”
The governor’s remarks underscore a growing ideological split within the PDP. One bloc, associated with Wike and his allies, is increasingly perceived as aligned with the ruling All Progressives Congress and President Tinubu.
The opposing bloc, led by Makinde, is positioning itself as a resistance force within the opposition party, arguing for internal independence and the preservation of a competitive political system.
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As 2027 draws closer, Makinde’s refusal to fall in line signals that the battle for the soul of the PDP may prove just as consequential as the contest for the presidency itself.
