Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has publicly declared his refusal to support President Bola Tinubu's re-election bid in 2027, warning that efforts to undermine opposition parties could jeopardize Nigeria's multiparty democracy. During a media chat in Ibadan on Tuesday, December 23, 2025, Makinde revealed details of a high-level meeting where Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike allegedly volunteered to "hold the PDP" for Tinubu, an offer Makinde claims was unsolicited by the president. This revelation underscores deepening fractures within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as factions align differently ahead of the next general elections.
Makinde, a prominent PDP figure and former member of the G5 governors' group that backed Tinubu in the 2023 presidential race, emphasized his commitment to preserving democratic pluralism. "The real issue is that Wike would like to support the President in 2027, that’s fine, it’s within his right to do that," Makinde stated. "But also some of us that want democracy to survive in Nigeria, we don’t drift into a one-party state, and we want to ensure that PDP survives, he should also allow us to do our own thing." He recounted the meeting, attended by Tinubu, Wike, Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila, and others, where Wike made the pledge without prior agreement. "I was in a meeting with the President and Wike and a few others, and Wike said to the President that I will hold PDP for you against 2027," Makinde said. "The President did not ask him; do this for me, he was the one who volunteered that I would do this." Shocked, Makinde confronted Wike, asking, "Did we agree to this?" After failed attempts to dissuade him, Makinde distanced himself: "After he didn’t back off, I told him from that day that I would never be part of this."
The governor's stance reflects broader tensions in the PDP, exacerbated since the 2023 elections when the G5—comprising Makinde, Wike, Okezie Ikpeazu, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, and Samuel Ortom—rebelled against the party's northern presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, over the refusal of then-National Chairman Iyorchia Ayu to resign for southern zoning. While Wike has since aligned closely with the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration, accepting a ministerial role without formally defecting, Makinde has advocated for PDP's revival as a strong opposition. In August 2025, the PDP zoned its 2027 presidential ticket to the South, paving the way for southern aspirants like Makinde. The party's National Executive Committee recently confirmed Umar Damagum as acting chairman and maintained zoning for the November 2025 convention, amid ongoing internal strife.
Addressing rumors of his own presidential ambitions, Makinde asserted his qualifications unequivocally. "I have heard people ask if I am positioning myself for the 2027 presidency. Let me make this clear: I am qualified. I am even overqualified," he declared. By May 2027, he will have completed two terms as Oyo governor, bolstered by executive experience and a successful private sector career starting at age 29. Makinde highlighted a 1997 contract with Mobil worth $1 million, noting, "Within one year, I made one million dollars 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." Comparing himself to Tinubu, who transitioned from Lagos governor to president, Makinde added, "Even the current president, what brought him to the table? He was governor of Lagos State." However, he clarified he's not fixated on running, prioritizing democratic survival: "If I correctly recalibrate the environment, then we need to go beyond PDP and talk about the survival of democracy."
On his legacy, Makinde shifted focus from tangible projects to institutional building. "We would love to be remembered for the institutions that we’re creating that will ensure good governance and sustainable development and growth long after we’ve left this place," he said, arguing that infrastructure fades but systems endure.
Makinde also tackled allegations of land grabbing tied to the Rashidi Ladoja Circular Road project. He explained the 500-meter corridor was gazetted on November 19, 2018, under the previous administration, predating his May 2019 inauguration. The 110-kilometer road, originally conceived by former Governor Rashidi Ladoja and renamed in 2022, aims to alleviate Ibadan traffic, adhere to motorway standards, and serve as an economic hub for industry and commerce. Phases include a 32-kilometer section flagged off in 2022, with ongoing stakeholder engagements in areas like Ologuneru. Dismissing critics as "the real land grabbers," Makinde stressed humane demolitions and compensation. "We are not just demolishing; we are compensating people humanely, even those without proper documentation, as long as they can prove they lived there," he affirmed, prioritizing resettlement based on residence proof.
In response, Lere Olayinka, Wike's media aide, claimed Makinde's fallout stemmed from Tinubu rejecting his ministerial nominee for Oyo State. "If Makinde’s nominee had been accepted and formed part of Tinubu’s cabinet, Makinde would still be supporting the president," Olayinka asserted, portraying it as personal rather than ideological.
This media chat comes amid Nigeria's evolving political landscape, with 2027 looming as a pivotal contest. Tinubu, elected in 2023 amid economic reforms and controversies, faces opposition from a fragmented PDP and other parties. Makinde's comments, echoed in a YouTube broadcast of the event, have sparked debates on party loyalty and democratic integrity. As PDP prepares for its convention, figures like Makinde position themselves as guardians of opposition strength, potentially reshaping alliances.
Makinde's tenure in Oyo, marked by infrastructure like the circular road and institutional reforms, positions him as a viable national contender. His business acumen, from engineering to multimillion-dollar deals, adds to his credentials. Yet, critics question if internal PDP rifts will hinder unity against the APC. With economic challenges persisting—inflation, fuel prices, and security—voters may prioritize leaders promising stability. Makinde's warning against a one-party drift resonates in a nation with a history of military rule, urging vigilance for democratic health.
