Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has disclosed the circumstances that led to the widening rift between him and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, declaring unequivocally that he will not support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.
Speaking during a Media chat on Tuesday, Makinde said he was taken aback when Wike allegedly promised to “hold the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for President Tinubu” ahead of the next general election.
According to the Oyo governor, that declaration marked a turning point in their political relationship and deepened existing disagreements within the opposition party.
“I was shocked when Nyesom Wike said he would hold PDP for President Tinubu in 2027,” Makinde stated.
“That was not what we stood for, and that was not the agreement within the party.
“I want to make it clear that I will not be supporting President Bola Tinubu in 2027.”
Makinde explained that his position is rooted in principle and loyalty to the PDP as an opposition party, stressing that internal democracy and collective decision-making must be respected.
He noted that while individuals are free to make personal political choices, such decisions should not be presented as the party’s official stance.
The Oyo State governor, while discussing, also reflected on his early career, recalling that at 29 he secured his first major contract with Mobil, worth $1 million. He stated that at the time, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, had probably just left law school.
Makinde described the deal as a pivotal moment that shaped his rise in both business and politics.
“Within one year, I made $1 million in my pocket. I was 29 in 1997.
“Wike, perhaps at that time, had just left law school, and his next job was as a local government chairman,” he said.
He also hinted that the tensions between himself and Wike had been building over time, particularly over divergent approaches to party unity and alignment with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
He said the PDP must focus on rebuilding, reconnecting with Nigerians, and presenting a credible alternative ahead of the next election cycle.