A fresh political storm has erupted within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, launched a scathing attack on Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, over his rumoured presidential ambition for the 2027 election.
Wike Questions Makinde's Political Courage
In a recent interview, the former Rivers State Governor dismissed suggestions of Makinde's readiness for the nation's highest office. Wike insisted that Governor Makinde lacks the courage to openly declare his intentions to party stakeholders, framing the issue as one of transparency and adherence to party rules.
"It has different rules. When did he come into politics? There’s nothing wrong in having ambition, but ambition must follow the rules," Wike stated. He further challenged, "Ambition? What do you mean by ambition? Running for president or what? He doesn’t even have the guts to tell us that he wants to run for president. He didn’t tell anybody, but we know it."
Wike's remarks, made on December 29, 2025, underscore his firm belief that political aspirations must be pursued openly and within established party protocols, a principle he accuses the Oyo governor of violating.
Makinde's Retort and Reflections on Success
Governor Seyi Makinde had earlier fired his own salvo, highlighting a growing political divergence within the PDP and explaining why he would not support President Bola Tinubu's re-election bid in 2027. Speaking during a media chat in Ibadan on Tuesday, December 23, 2025, Makinde reflected on his early career success to distinguish his journey from Wike's.
Makinde recalled that at the age of 29 in 1997, he secured his first major contract with Mobil worth $1 million. "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," the governor stated, drawing a clear line between their respective paths.
The Underlying PDP Crisis and 2027 Calculations
This public spat between two powerful southern governors exposes the deepening cracks within the main opposition party. Makinde's comments directly addressed the internal conflict, stating that the growing political divergence within the PDP raises serious questions about support for President Tinubu's 2027 re-election bid.
Furthermore, Governor Makinde expressed regret over his decision to support President Bola Tinubu during the 2023 presidential election. He admitted that the move did not yield the outcome he had hoped for, based on his belief that Tinubu would "reset the country" and assemble competent hands to tackle national challenges.
The exchange points to a significant realignment and power struggle ahead of the next general elections, with key figures like Wike and Makinde positioning themselves and testing loyalties within the fractured PDP landscape.
