Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makimde, has said politicians associating with a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) linked to Nyesom Wike are effectively supporting the re-election of Bola Tinubu in 2027.
Makinde made the remark on Sunday during a closed-door meeting with Bala Mohammed and Seriake Dickson at the Bauchi Government House.
The Oyo governor said any engagement with Wike’s camp signals alignment with the president’s political ambition.
“I came into the public domain to say that I was in a meeting with Wike and Mr. President, and he promised to hold the PDP for Mr. President towards 2027,” Makinde said.
“So, anyone dealing with Wike and his group, in any guise, what it means is you have also agreed to support President Tinubu for 2027.
“We need Nigerians to judge. If you can be in their camp where they promised that they are supporting the president, so be it.”
Makinde added that while individuals are free to choose their political alliances, such decisions should be made openly.
“We are not begrudging them. You can support whoever you like to support. But go to them if you want to support them. That is our position,” he said.
He further alleged that the faction enjoys institutional backing but insisted his group has popular support.
“They have the government behind them. They have the judiciary behind them. They have INEC behind them. But we have the people behind us,” he stated.
Meanwhile, Mohammed said the push for reconciliation within the PDP was in line with a court directive and not a voluntary political move.
“Reconciliation is not something that we have called for. It is something that is being required as a solution by a competent court of jurisdiction — a very high court of appeal,” he said.
“We are law-abiding and we believe in the rule of law. That opinion by my brother is his opinion. But certainly, we believe that there are no irreconcilable issues in Nigeria, especially in the political or national space.”
