Fresh political tension is brewing within Nigeria’s opposition ranks as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has openly dismissed claims surrounding Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde’s presidential ambition, describing it as unrealistic and bound to fail.
Wike made the remarks while responding to reports of a political understanding allegedly formed between a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) linked to Makinde and the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) during a gathering in Ibadan on Thursday.
At the event, Makinde was said to have announced, after the signing of an agreement, that he intends to run for president in the 2027 general election under a PDP-APM arrangement. However, Wike dismissed the development, insisting that no official coalition or agreement exists between the parties. He also distanced the PDP from any involvement in such a political alliance.
“There is no coalition between the PDP and APM or any other party. INEC is fully aware that no such alliance exists”, he said.
According to him, the Ibadan event was orchestrated by Makinde in pursuit of his personal political ambition, which he argued lacks real prospects of success. “What is happening is simply Makinde aligning with APM to advance a presidential ambition that is already destined to fail”, he said.
He further described the alleged PDP-APM alliance as a product of political imagination, stressing that neither the PDP leadership nor the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has any record of such an arrangement.
Wike added that ongoing internal activities within the PDP, including candidate screening processes, demonstrate that the party is operating independently and not in any formal coalition.
