Nyesom Wike, the FCT minister, has challenged Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State over his statement on politics Today with Channels TV and action within the People’s Democratic Party.
Wike, who said that he watched the interview, noted that after the interview, he called Makinde to confront him about some of his statements. He asserted that Governor Makinde, whom he referred to as his friend, had lied about some of his statements. He revealed this in a televised media chat in Abuja on April 18, 2025, where he accused both proponents and opponents of a proposed coalition within the PDP of insincerity and self-interest
Wike began his criticism by calling out the 11 members of the PDP Governors’ Forum, in which the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, is also a member, over their handling of internal party matters. The FCT Minister condemned the action of the PDP Governors’ Forum of undermining the party’s National Working Committee (NWC).
He accused them of repeating the same impunity that Seyi Makinde asserted led to the PDP’s defeat in previous elections. Also, he emphasized that governors should not overstep their boundaries, nor should they usurp the functions of the National Working Committee, cautioning that continued impunity could again cost the party dearly. Wike stated that those who said they don’t want a coalition with the PDP “are not sincere to themselves and also not sincere to the party.”
Back to Governor Seyi Makinde, the former Rivers State governor, noted that Seyi made some important points during his interaction with Channels TV. However, he didn’t tell the entire truth in relation to some issues. Wike, talking about Sehi Makinde’s stat
“One of the reasons why PDP lost is Impunity. People who believe that they have all it takes and so refuse to respect the constitution of the party as regards to power sharing between the North and the South, you are right. And again now, you are also making the same mistake by the impunity of the Governors’ Forum; you are repeating the same thing. And what happened in 2023 may likely happen in 2027. If you dont stop this impunity, it will affect the party.”
Speaking on how the same act may affect the party, Wike asserted that the governors’ forum is not an organ of the party, but rather a pressure group. This pressure group, according to the FCT Minister, can “put influence on the national working committee.” He also noted that one cannot take away the duty of the NWC, and allow the Governors’ Forum to decide who the National Secretary should be when the one in the seat hasn’t resigned.
He further challenged that even though something similar happened during his days as a governor, it doesn’t make it right, and that it happened today doesn’t mean it should happen today. He finally stated that the National Secretary is elected at the National Convention, not appointed, and so no one, not even the Governors’ Forum, which Seyi Makinde seems to be speaking for, can appoint someone to act as a National Secretary to the Party.
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