Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has outlined the reasons he will not back President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general election, pointing to concerns about the preservation of democracy and the continued relevance of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The governor made the disclosure on Tuesday during a media interaction at the Government House in Ibadan, where he addressed the ongoing political disagreement between him and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
Makinde explained that the disagreement stemmed from a meeting involving President Tinubu, Wike, and other political figures, during which Wike reportedly told the President that he would “deliver the PDP” for him in the 2027 election. Makinde said the statement was made without the approval or consultation of other party leaders.
Recalling the incident, the governor said he immediately questioned Wike over the claim, asking whether there had been any collective agreement within the party to support such a position.
He stressed that while Wike is free to support President Tinubu’s re-election if he chooses, other members of the PDP equally have the right to resist any action that could undermine the party or weaken Nigeria’s democratic structure.
According to Makinde, the core issue is not Wike’s personal political choice but the need to safeguard democratic diversity and prevent the country from drifting toward a one-party system, while also ensuring the survival of the PDP as a viable opposition platform.
He further clarified that President Tinubu did not request Wike to make such a pledge, describing the move as a personal initiative taken by the minister without prompting from the President.
Makinde said attempts were made to persuade Wike to withdraw or reconsider the statement, but when those efforts failed, he resolved to dissociate himself completely from the plan.
The governor concluded by reaffirming his political independence ahead of the 2027 polls, insisting that his refusal to support President Tinubu is a personal and principled decision.
He noted that while Wike is entitled to support any candidate of his choice, he too retains the constitutional right to decide who he will support and the political path he will follow in 2027.