Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has declared he will not support President Bola Tinubu’s anticipated re-election bid in 2027, framing his stance as a fight for the survival of his party and multiparty democracy.
The governor’s comments, made during a media chat in Ibadan, underscore a significant rift with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. Makinde revealed that tensions came to a head during a meeting with President Tinubu, his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, and other officials.
Makinde said Wike told the President he would “hold the PDP” for him ahead of the 2027 elections, saying that the statement left him shocked.
“The President did not ask him to do this; he volunteered. 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.
Despite efforts to engage Wike, Makinde said the situation remained unchanged, prompting him to take a firm stance.
“I told him from that day that I would never be a part of this. Wike can support him, 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,” he added.
Reflecting on his own trajectory to contextualize his political independence, Governor Makinde recalled a pivotal early career achievement. He stated that at the age of 29, he secured his first major contract with Mobil worth $1 million, at a time when, as he noted, Nyesom Wike had probably just left law school.
Makinde’s position highlights a deepening division within the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, with one faction led by Wike seen as aligning with the ruling party, and another, led by Makinde, advocating for strict party autonomy ahead of the next general elections.