Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has taken a swipe at Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, over claims that he promised President Bola Tinubu to “hold” the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Wike, who strongly denied the allegation, also criticised his successor in Rivers State, Governor Siminalayi Fubara, describing his defection from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC) as belated and lacking any solid political structure.
Makinde had, during a media interaction in Ibadan last Tuesday, said his relationship with Wike broke down after the former Rivers governor allegedly made an unsolicited declaration during a meeting with President Tinubu. According to Makinde, Wike told the President, “I will hold the PDP for you against 2027,” a statement he said left him shocked.
However, speaking during his end-of-year media chat in Port Harcourt on Sunday, Wike dismissed the claim, insisting that no such discussion took place. He said the meeting in question was only to show support for Tinubu’s leadership and had nothing to do with the PDP.
“Seyi said I told Tinubu that I would hold PDP for him. Nothing like that happened. Everybody knows my position on Tinubu. I don’t need a meeting to tell him that,” Wike said.
He added that his support for Tinubu has always been open and that, as a minister, he has a responsibility to ensure members of the G-5 group benefit from the current administration.
Wike further alleged that Makinde’s anger stemmed from Tinubu’s refusal to approve his ministerial nominee. He also claimed that the Oyo governor enjoyed more federal support than he did, citing the reported N50 billion released to Oyo State after the Bodija explosion.
Makinde’s Special Adviser on Media, Dr. Suleimon Olanrewaju, countered the claim, stating that only N30 billion was released, with part paid directly to victims and the remainder used for rebuilding and restoration. Wike, however, insisted that Makinde owed the people of Oyo State a clear account of how the funds were spent, adding that such expenditure should have followed proper appropriation.
Turning to Rivers politics, Wike mocked Governor Fubara’s move to the APC, saying it came too late. He noted that before Fubara’s defection, about 22 local government chairmen and nearly half of the state House of Assembly members had already left the PDP.
“As a governor, he should move with the Assembly, council chairmen, party structures and National Assembly members. But who did he move with? These people moved on their own,” Wike said.
He also warned that openly chanting pro-Tinubu slogans does not guarantee automatic re-election tickets, stressing that political support must be backed by structure and leadership.
Wike denied reports of any fanfare when Fubara defected to the APC and dismissed claims that the governor is the political leader of Rivers State. He argued that proper defection requires registration at one’s ward, not ceremonial announcements.
Reacting, the PDP in Rivers State rejected Wike’s claim that the party no longer exists in the state. Acting PDP Chairman, Nname Ewor, said the party remains fully active despite recent defections.
“The APC in Rivers State is led by Fubara, while the PDP in Rivers State is led by me,” Ewor said, adding that any agreement between Wike and Fubara was personal and had nothing to do with the mandate given to the governor by Rivers people in 2023.
Ewor expressed confidence that the electorate would renew Fubara’s mandate in 2027 based on performance, while PDP Acting Secretary in the state, Chief Ojima Ochima, cautioned Wike against statements that could inflame ethnic tensions, stressing that all ethnic groups in Rivers State are equal and important.
The political exchanges highlight deepening cracks within the PDP as the countdown to the 2027 elections gathers momentum.
