Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has taken a definitive stand against supporting President Bola Tinubu's potential re-election bid in 2027, directly contradicting the public endorsement made by the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike.
A Shocking Declaration and a Clear Boundary
During a media interaction in Ibadan on Tuesday, December 23, Makinde revealed a telling incident that highlights the growing divide between the two former political allies. He recounted being present at a meeting with President Tinubu, Wike, and other figures when the FCT Minister unexpectedly pledged to deliver the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for Tinubu in the next presidential election.
"I was in a meeting with President Tinubu, Nyesom Wike, and others when Wike volunteered to hold the PDP for Tinubu against 2027, and I was in shock," the governor stated. He firmly declared that while Wike is free to back the president, he will not be following suit.
Makinde emphasized that no single individual within the PDP possesses the authority to impose political choices on others. His primary focus, he asserted, remains the survival, stability, and integrity of the opposition party as it prepares for future electoral contests.
From G5 Brothers to Political Rivals
The rift marks a significant deterioration in the relationship between Makinde and Wike, who were once core members of the infamous G5 group of PDP governors. This bloc, which also included former governors Okezie Ikpeazu, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, and Samuel Ortom, famously withheld support from the party's presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and backed Bola Tinubu in the 2023 election.
Their rebellion stemmed from internal party disputes over leadership zoning, particularly the refusal of the then-national chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, to resign after Atiku, a fellow northerner, emerged as the flagbearer.
However, the alliance has crumbled since Tinubu's victory. Tensions became institutionalized when the PDP, during a convention in Oyo State, initiated disciplinary measures against Wike and other prominent figures like former Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose. Factions loyal to Makinde have accused Wike of anti-party activities, allegations the minister consistently denies.
Deepening Crisis and Physical Confrontations
Wike has remained adamant about his support for President Tinubu in 2027, a stance that now firmly places him and Makinde on opposing sides of the PDP's internal fissures. The minister maintains that he is still a member of the PDP despite his open backing of the APC president.
The political disagreement has escalated beyond verbal sparring. Reports indicate that tensions boiled over at the PDP's national headquarters recently, where loyalists of the rival factions clashed physically. This confrontation erupted after the faction led by acting national chairman Muhammed Abdulrahman moved against senior figures accused of violating party directives.
Governor Makinde's public delineation of his position signals a critical moment for the PDP's cohesion. It underscores the ongoing struggle for the party's soul and direction ahead of the 2027 general elections, with the legacy of the G5 now fully fractured.
