A major political rift has erupted between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and the Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, over allegations of a secret pact concerning the 2027 presidential election.
The Accusation: A "Shocking" Declaration to Tinubu
Governor Seyi Makinde, during a media chat held in Ibadan on December 23, made a startling revelation. He claimed that his relationship with Nyesom Wike deteriorated after a post-2023 election meeting with President Bola Tinubu.
Makinde alleged that during this meeting, which included the President's Chief of Staff and two others, Wike made an unsolicited promise to the President. "Wike said to the President, 'I will hold the PDP for you against 2027,'" Makinde stated, describing the declaration as shocking.
He emphasized that President Tinubu neither requested nor endorsed the statement. Makinde explained that his core issue is the survival of multi-party democracy and the PDP itself. "He should also allow us to do our own thing. That is just the issue between Wike and me," the governor concluded.
Wike's Furious Rebuttal: A Sign of Frustration
In a swift and forceful response during his own media parley, Nyesom Wike categorically dismissed Makinde's account as a "blatant lie." He suggested the accusation stemmed from Makinde's frustration over not securing a ministerial appointment.
Wike challenged the logic of the claim, questioning the nature of a meeting where such a promise would be made. "Why did Makinde not come up all this while to tell the party, see what Wike is doing?" he asked.
He provided his version of events, stating there was no such dedicated meeting. Instead, he said he, Makinde, and former governors Okezie Ikpeazu and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi visited the President to discuss general post-election matters, with the Chief of Staff present as usual.
"So it is completely out of place for anybody to say that in that meeting, I said to Mr. President, I will hold the PDP. That’s very unfair," Wike asserted, labeling the allegation as completely false.
Deepening Cracks in the PDP
This public spat highlights the ongoing and deep-seated divisions within the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The conflict between two of its most prominent southern figures exposes the party's struggle to present a united front ahead of the next electoral cycle.
The core of the disagreement revolves around loyalty, party survival, and the perceived drift towards a one-party state in Nigerian politics. While Wike frames Makinde's actions as bitterness, Makinde positions himself as a defender of democratic and party integrity.
This incident is likely to have significant repercussions for PDP's internal cohesion and its strategy for the 2027 presidential election, as key stakeholders publicly air grievances and contradict each other's narratives.
