The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has denied an allegation by Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, that he promised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to “hold” the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for him ahead of the 2027 general election.
Speaking during a live media chat, Wike described the claim as a “blatant lie,” insisting that he never made such a statement to the president.
Wike’s reaction followed comments earlier made by Governor Makinde during a separate media engagement, where he alleged that the FCT minister openly declared his intention to secure the PDP for President Tinubu. Makinde stated that the statement was made during a private meeting attended by the president and his Chief of Staff.
“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,” Makinde said. “Wike can support the president in 2027, but I will not”.
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However, Wike challenged the timing and context of Makinde’s allegation. He asked why the Oyo State governor remained silent if such a statement was truly made.
“First of all, you must ask what that meeting was all about, and what would have led me to promise to hold down PDP for Tinubu?” Wike asked. “Why did Seyin Makinde not come up all this time to say to the party, that see what Wike is doing o? Why didn’t he tell everybody about the so-called meeting?”
According to Wike, the meeting in question was a post-election courtesy visit by members of the G5 governors to discuss national issues and not a politically motivated gathering.
“And let me put the record straight, there was no such meeting between us,” he said. “My humble self, the former governors of Benue State, Otom, Abia State, Ikpeazu, Enugu State, Ugwuanyi, and Seyi Makinde, we went to see the President after the election, to discuss certain things,”
The governor added that the presence of the President’s chief of staff was just routine and didn’t lead to a separate political meeting. He described Makinde’s statement as ‘very unfair’.
“It is completely out of place for anybody to say that in that meeting, I said to Mr. President, I will hold PDP for you,” he said. “That’s very unfair. Very, very unfair.” Wike added.
Furthermore, Wike accused Makinde of acting out of frustration and linked him to the internal divisions of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
“If you watch him, you will see frustration. Frustration can make you do a lot of things that will damage the party,” Wike said.
He further blamed Makinde for rejecting consensus arrangements within the PDP, a move he said resulted in legal battles that worsened divisions within the party.
