Governor Makinde denies defection rumours after closed-door meeting with Tinubu

Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has dismissed speculations that he intends to dump the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Makinde made this clarification on Thursday at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, shortly after holding a closed-door meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. His visit followed closely behind that of Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang, who recently defected from the PDP to the APC.

Despite the recent wave of high-profile defections rocking the PDP, Makinde insisted he remains a committed member of the party. When asked by State House correspondents if he planned to follow the path of his former colleagues, the Governor replied simply: “I am comfortable in the PDP.”

While reaffirming his party loyalty, Makinde emphasized that Nigeria’s current challenges transcend partisan politics. He advocated for a collaborative approach to governance, suggesting that there are moments when national interest must outweigh party affiliation.

“We may have issues in this country where you need a bipartisan approach, where there won’t be an issue of APC talking alone or PDP talking alone,” Makinde said. “When you get to that junction, you need everybody on board to look at what is the best foot forward in the interest of our nation.”

Makinde’s relationship with both the PDP leadership and President Tinubu has long been a subject of intense political scrutiny. He was a pivotal member of the G5 (integrity group), alongside Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Samuel Ortom (Benue), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), and Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), who revolted against the PDP’s 2023 presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

The G5 had argued that the party’s decision to field a Northern candidate after the eight-year tenure of Muhammadu Buhari violated the principles of regional rotation. Consequently, Makinde worked in support of Tinubu’s emergence in 2023.

While Makinde continues to maintain a cordial relationship with the President, his ties with other G5 members have reportedly cooled. Observers note a visible deterioration in relations between Makinde and Nyesom Wike, the current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

By reaffirming his stay in the PDP, Makinde appears to be positioning himself as a leading voice within the opposition, even as he maintains an open diplomatic channel with the Presidency.