2027: Wike has right to support Tinubu, but i will not — Makinde

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has stated that he will not support President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general election, distancing himself from the position reportedly taken by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

Makinde made this known on Tuesday during a media interaction in Ibadan, where he stressed that Wike does not have the authority to determine the political choices of other party members.

He said every politician has the right to decide their own political direction without pressure or imposition.

The Oyo State governor recalled a past meeting involving himself, President Tinubu, and Wike, during which Wike allegedly indicated his intention to deliver the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to Tinubu in the next election cycle.

Makinde said he was surprised by the claim and made it clear that such a position does not reflect his own plans.

He said …

“Within one year, I made $1 million on a contract with Mobil. I was 29 in 1997. At that time, Wike had probably just finished law school. My major issue with Wike was his meetings with President Tinubu. Wike openly said he would hold the PDP for President Tinubu in 2027, I but also some of us wants to ensure democracy survives in Nigeria so we do not drift into a one-party state and ensure PDP survives, he should also allow us do our own thing.”

According to Makinde, his priority at the moment is the survival and strengthening of the PDP, rather than supporting a candidate from another party. He added that political loyalty should not be assumed or enforced based on past alliances.

Both Makinde and Wike, alongside other PDP governors under the G5 group, supported Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the 2023 presidential election. The G5 also included former governors Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu, and Samuel Ortom of Benue.