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.
