24/12/2025
Wike Openly Vowed To Hold PDP Down To Tinubu’s Advantage Against 2027, Says Gov. Makinde
By The Republican News
Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has accused the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, of attempting to weaken the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in support of President Bola Tinubu’s second term ambition.
Mr Makinde made the remarks while recounting discussions he said he had with President Tinubu and Mr Wike, arguing that such political manoeuvres threaten Nigeria’s multiparty democracy.
Speaking during a media briefing at the Government House in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, the Governor disclosed that President Tinubu had once asked him to assist in organising the All Progreasive Congress in the state, a request he said he turned down because of his membership of the PDP.
He added that he also cautioned the president against relying on the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, for party organisation in the state, adding that the minister lacked the capacity for the task.
“The President said, No Seyi, it is you that I want to help me organise APC in Oyo’ and I said, ‘no sir, I am of the PDP; I can never help you organise the APC in Oyo State. ‘. If we had a government of national unity, a government of national competence, we would have been in a very different environment right now,” Governor Makinde said.
The Oyo governor further alleged that during a meeting attended by President Tinubu, Mr Wike, the president’s chief of staff and other officials, the FCT minister openly offered to hold the PDP for the president ahead of the 2027 general election.
Mr Makinde said the comment came as a shock to him and raised concerns about efforts to erode the opposition and push the country towards a one-party system.
While acknowledging Mr Wike’s right to support President Tinubu’s re-election bid, the governor insisted that other political actors must be allowed to protect that PDP and Nigeria’s democratic diversity.
“I was in a meeting with President and Wike, …. and Wike said to the president that ‘I will hold PDP for you against 2027.’ I was in shock . So we got to the veranda and I asked him, did we agree to this?
“The real Issue is that Wike would like to support the President for 2027. That is fine. It is within his right to do that. But also some of us that want to ensure that democracy survives in Nigeria, that we don’t drift into a one-party state and want to ensure that PDP survives should be allowed to do our own thing,” he said.
The governor said he initially raised his concerns privately with mutual associates, hoping Mr Wike would reconsider his position, but claimed the minister remained unmoved. He added that this eventually led him to co front the issue directly.
Neither Mr Wike nor the presidency has reacted to Mr Makinde’s claim.
