Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has reaffirmed his commitment to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), insisting he remains comfortable in the opposition party despite a wave of high-profile defections to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
“No, I’m comfortable in the PDP,” Makinde told journalists on Thursday after a closed-door meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the State House in Abuja.
The governor said his visit to the President was strictly focused on governance issues of national importance and not party politics.
“The President is the President of Nigeria, not the President of the APC. We are talking about governance here,” Makinde said. “So I came to discuss some governance issues, basically.”
Responding to speculation that his meeting with Tinubu and recent tensions within the PDP signalled a possible defection, Makinde maintained that his party allegiance remained unchanged.
While stressing his willingness to work with the President in the national interest, Makinde argued that a strong opposition was vital for Nigeria’s democratic health, especially ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“There are issues where you need a bipartisan approach. It cannot be APC alone or PDP alone. When you get to that junction, you need everyone on board,” he said.
Makinde added that cooperation on governance matters did not amount to abandoning party principles.
“We belong to different political parties, but Nigeria is a project that all Nigerians must be concerned about,” he said. “Issues like security and poverty alleviation have no party colouration.”
PDP under pressure
Makinde’s comments come as the PDP faces its most serious crisis since losing power in 2015, with a steady stream of defections weakening the party ahead of the 2027 elections.
Since 2025, several governors and senior party figures have left the PDP. In April 2025, Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori defected to the APC alongside his predecessor and former PDP vice-presidential candidate, Ifeanyi Okowa, citing the need to align with the federal government to attract development resources.
Akwa Ibom Governor Umo Eno joined the APC in June 2025, while Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah defected in October, describing President Tinubu as “a partner in purpose.”
By the end of 2025, Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke had moved to the Accord party, Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang had defected to the APC, and Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri also joined the ruling party, describing the PDP as being in “terminal decline.”
The PDP now controls only four states—Adamawa, Bauchi, Oyo and Zamfara—down from 16 in 2015. Its representation in the Senate has also dropped from 36 members at the inauguration of the 10th Assembly in 2023 to 23 by the end of 2025.
Rift with Wike and 2027 signals
Makinde has been at the centre of internal PDP tensions, particularly with former Rivers State Governor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
He previously alleged that Wike promised President Tinubu during a private meeting that he would “hold down the PDP” ahead of the 2027 elections, an allegation Wike has denied, calling it “a blatant lie.”
Makinde said Wike made the alleged remark without consulting other PDP stakeholders, an action he described as a threat to Nigeria’s multiparty democracy.
“Wike can support whoever he wants, but it is equally my right to decide who I will support and what role I will play in 2027,” Makinde said at the time.
Wike, while serving in an APC-led government, has remained a PDP member and said the meeting in question was a routine discussion by G-5 governors on governance issues.
In December 2025, Makinde said he regretted supporting Tinubu during the 2023 elections and made it clear he would not back the President’s re-election bid in 2027, citing concerns about governance and the survival of multiparty democracy. The governor is widely believed to harbour presidential ambitions.
Bodija explosion controversy
Makinde’s meeting with the President also comes amid controversy over federal relief funds following the January 2024 Bodija explosion in Ibadan.
Former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose alleged that Makinde received N50 billion from the Federal Government but failed to fully account for the funds. Makinde clarified that only N30 billion was released.
According to him, N4.5 billion was disbursed directly to victims, while the balance was deployed for reconstruction, road repairs, security upgrades and memorial projects.
