Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has stated that he will not back President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election, while calling on the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to respect the right of others to make their own political decisions. Makinde made the remarks on Tuesday during a media interaction in Ibadan, where he expressed shock over reports that Wike had promised to deliver the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to Tinubu ahead of 2027. “I was in a meeting with President Tinubu, Nyesom Wike, and others when Wike volunteered to hold the PDP for Tinubu against 2027, and I was in shock. Wike can support the president in 2027, but I will not,” Makinde said. The PDP governor recalled making it clear to Tinubu that he could not assist in building the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State. “I said, no, sir, I can never help you organise the APC in Oyo State because I am of the PDP,” he said. Makinde stressed that while Wike is entitled to support Tinubu, other party members should also be free to take independent political positions. “The real issue is that Wike would like to support the President for 2027. That’s fine; it is within his rights. But some of us want to ensure that democracy survives in Nigeria and that the PDP survives as well. He should allow us to make our own choices,” he said. He explained that attempts to resolve the matter quietly were unsuccessful, leading to a direct confrontation. “I tried to engage him through a mutual friend, but when he did not back off, I confronted him directly. From that day, I made it clear I would never be part of this. Wike can support him, but it is also within my right to decide who I will support or what I will do in 2027. This explains the current conflict within the PDP.” Makinde added that his immediate focus is preserving the PDP and preventing Nigeria from drifting into a one-party system. “Some of us want to ensure that democracy survives in Nigeria. We don’t want to drift into a one-party state, and we want to ensure that the PDP survives,” he said. Turning to governance, Makinde said his administration is prioritising opportunity creation over direct handouts in tackling poverty. “We will not give people handouts in Oyo State. Instead, we will create a conducive environment for people to thrive,” he said. He cited the Sustainable Action for Economic Recovery (SEFA) programme as an example, explaining that subsidies are targeted at boosting productivity. “For the 20,000 people using our state transport system, including vulnerable persons, students, the elderly, and the physically challenged, they pay half the price. That money is subsidising productivity. You don’t get on the bus just because it’s cheaper; you get on it because you’re going somewhere important, likely to result in something productive,” Makinde explained. Makinde and Wike were among PDP figures who supported Tinubu in the 2023 elections, but his comments reflect deepening divisions within the party as preparations for 2027 intensify.
