January 22, (THEWILL) — Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has dismissed speculation that he is planning to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC), insisting that he remains firmly committed to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Makinde spoke on Thursday after meeting President Bola Tinubu at the State House, Abuja, where he addressed growing rumours of possible defections by opposition governors to the ruling party.
Asked by reporters if he would join the APC like some of his colleagues, the governor said, “I am comfortable in the PDP”, stressing that his engagement with the President was in the national interest and not about partisan politics.
He noted that there are moments in a nation’s life when bipartisan cooperation becomes necessary.
“There are moments when we must move beyond APC or PDP conversations and focus on what is best for Nigeria. When we get to that point, everyone must be on board”, he said.
Makinde’s comments come amid a wave of defections that has significantly reduced the number of PDP-controlled states, leaving the party with only four governors, including Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa, Bala Mohammed of Bauchi, Makinde of Oyo, and Dauda Lawal of Zamfara.
Earlier, the governor reiterated that he would not support President Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027, citing concerns about the survival of democracy in the country.
Makinde was part of the G5 governors within the PDP who declined to back the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, during the 2023 general election over unresolved internal party disputes.
Despite the political tensions, Makinde said his priority remains governance and delivering development to the people of Oyo State.
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