Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has declared he will not support President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 election, urging former ally and FCT Minister Nyesom Wike to allow others make their political choices.
Speaking on Tuesday during a media chat in Ibadan, Makinde said he was surprised when Wike reportedly told Tinubu he would “hold the PDP” for him in 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,” he said.
Makinde, a Peoples Democratic Party member, recalled telling the president that he could not help organise 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 explained.
The governor stressed that while Wike has the right to support Tinubu, others should also have the freedom to make independent political decisions.
“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 PDP survives as well. he should allow us to make our own choices,” he said.
He added, “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.”
“It is within his right to do that. But also, it is within my own right to decide within the political space who I will support or what I will do in 2027,” Makinde said.
He said his immediate goal is to ensure the survival of the PDP.
“Some of us want to ensure that democracy survives in Nigeria, we don’t drift into a one-party state. And we want to ensure that PDP survives. It should also allow us to do our own thing,” he added.
Shifting focus to his administration’s approach to poverty alleviation, Makinde explained that the state will prioritise creating opportunities over handouts.
“We will not give people handouts in Oyo State, but rather, create a conducive environment for them to thrive,” he said.
He highlighted the Sustainable Action for Economic Recovery (SEFA) programme, which subsidises productive efforts.
“For those 20,000 people using our pay sector transport company, the vulnerable ones, students, elderly, physically challenged, they pay a discounted price, half the price. But that $100 million is subsidising productivity. You’re not going to just get on the bus for a ride because it’s half price. You get on the bus because you’re going somewhere important, likely to yield something productive,” Makinde said.
Makinde and Wike had previously supported Tinubu of the APC in the 2023 elections. His comments underline ongoing tensions within the PDP over party direction and individual political choices ahead of 2027.
