Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has told the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to allow others make their political choices, declaring that he will not support President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.
Makinde stated this on Tuesday during a media chat in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, where he said Wike lacked the authority to dictate political decisions for other members of the Peoples Democratic Party.
Recalling a past meeting involving himself, President Tinubu and Wike, the governor expressed shock over what he described as Wike’s open declaration of support for the President ahead of 2027.
He said, “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.”
The governor added that while Wike was free to take his political stance, others must also be allowed to make their own choices, stressing that his immediate priority was the survival of the PDP.
“Let Wike allow us to make our choice. My focus right now is to ensure that the PDP survives,” Makinde said.
Makinde and Wike, both PDP chieftains, had worked together politically in the past and jointly supported Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress during the 2023 presidential election.
They were members of the G5 group of PDP governors, which also included former governors Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu and Samuel Ortom of Benue.
The group backed Tinubu following the refusal of the then PDP National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, to step down for a southerner, despite the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, hailing from the same region as Ayu.
However, after Tinubu’s victory in the 2023 election, the political relationship between Makinde and Wike reportedly deteriorated.
A few months ago, the PDP held its convention in Oyo State, during which Wike and other top party members, including former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, were suspended.
The faction of the party, which enjoys the backing of Makinde, accused Wike of anti-party activities, allegations the former Rivers State governor and his allies have denied.
Despite his suspension, Wike has maintained that he remains a member of the PDP and has repeatedly declared his intention to support Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.
