“I was in a meeting where Wike assured Tinubu that he would hold PDP for him ahead of 2027, and I told him it wasn’t our agreement” — Makinde 

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has offered a detailed explanation for his decision not to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 general election, linking his stance to concerns over the future of Nigeria’s democracy and the survival of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as a viable opposition force.

Makinde made the remarks on Tuesday during an extensive media chat at the Government House in Ibadan, where he spoke candidly about his political differences with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and the broader implications of recent political realignments ahead of the next election cycle.

According to the governor, the disagreement between him and Wike stems from a meeting attended by President Tinubu, Wike, and a few other political figures, during which the FCT minister reportedly assured the President that he would “hold the PDP” for him ahead of the 2027 elections. Makinde said the statement came as a surprise and was made without the knowledge or consent of key stakeholders within the party.

“I was in a meeting with the President and Wike and a few others, and Wike said to the President that I will hold PDP for you against 2027,” Makinde disclosed. “So, we got up, and I asked Wike, did we agree to this?”

The Oyo governor said that moment marked a turning point in his relationship with Wike, as it raised fundamental questions about internal party democracy, collective decision-making, and the role of opposition parties in sustaining Nigeria’s democratic system.

Makinde stressed that while Wike, like any Nigerian politician, has the constitutional right to support any candidate or political party of his choice, including President Tinubu, such decisions should not be imposed on others or framed as representing the collective position of the PDP.

“The real issue is that Wike would like to support the President in 2027, that’s fine, it’s within his right to do that,” Makinde said. “But also some of us that want democracy to survive in Nigeria, we don’t drift into a one-party state, and we want to ensure that PDP survives, he should also allow us to do our own thing.”

Makinde’s comments come amid growing concerns within Nigeria’s political space about the increasing dominance of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the internal crises facing opposition parties, particularly the PDP. Since the 2023 general elections, the PDP has been grappling with leadership disputes, defections, and ideological divisions, some of which have been linked to Wike’s continued alliance with the APC-led federal government.

Wike, a former governor of Rivers State and a key PDP figure, played a controversial role in the 2023 elections, openly opposing the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, while maintaining his membership in the party. His subsequent appointment as FCT minister by President Tinubu further deepened divisions within the PDP, with critics accusing him of undermining the party from within.

Makinde, however, was careful to clarify that President Tinubu did not solicit Wike’s pledge to “hold PDP” on his behalf. According to him, the move was entirely voluntary and unsolicited.

“The President did not ask him; do this for me, he was the one who volunteered that I would do this,” Makinde said, suggesting that Wike’s actions were driven by personal political calculations rather than a formal agreement with the President.

The Oyo governor revealed that after the meeting, he made efforts to persuade Wike to reconsider his position, warning of the potential damage such a stance could inflict on the PDP and Nigeria’s multiparty democracy. Those efforts, he said, proved unsuccessful.

“After he didn’t back off, I told him from that day that I would never be part of this,” Makinde stated.

Makinde’s firm position highlights a broader ideological divide within the PDP between those who believe in strategic alliances with the ruling party and those who see such moves as a betrayal of the opposition’s role. For Makinde, the issue goes beyond individual political ambition and touches on the foundational principles of democratic governance.

Political analysts note that Makinde has consistently projected himself as an advocate of institutional integrity and internal party democracy. As one of the few PDP governors who won re-election convincingly in 2023, his voice carries significant weight within the party. His refusal to align with President Tinubu in 2027 could influence the direction of the PDP as it seeks to rebuild and reposition itself ahead of the next elections.

Makinde concluded his remarks by reaffirming his independence and right to make political choices based on his convictions, rather than pressure from powerful individuals within or outside his party.

“That is why I will never support the President for 2027,” he declared. “Wike can support him; it is within his right, but it is also within my right within the political space to determine who I will support or what I will do in 2027.”

The governor’s comments have already sparked widespread reactions across Nigeria’s political landscape, with supporters praising his stance as principled and democratic, while critics argue that political pragmatism may require broader alliances. As the countdown to 2027 gradually begins, Makinde’s position underscores the deepening fault lines within the PDP and raises critical questions about the future of opposition politics in Nigeria.

With alliances shifting and ambitions crystallising, Makinde’s refusal to back President Tinubu may signal the emergence of a more assertive opposition bloc determined to resist what it perceives as the gradual erosion of political pluralism. Whether this stance will strengthen the PDP or further expose its internal divisions remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the battle for 2027 has already begun.