Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has vehemently refuted Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State’s accusation that he offered to undermine the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general elections. Makinde had alleged that Wike made this promise during a visit to the State House in 2024. Wike dismissed Makinde’s claim as a "brazen lie" during his end-of-year media chat in Port Harcourt, asserting that his stance on supporting President Tinubu has always been open and public, not requiring a secret meeting.

Wike clarified that his meeting with President Tinubu, which also involved other members of the G-5, was intended to show collective support for the President’s leadership, not to plot against the PDP. He countered Makinde's allegations by suggesting the Oyo State governor was frustrated because President Tinubu did not approve his preferred candidate for a ministerial appointment. Wike criticized Makinde for making false claims on national television due to his unmet political ambitions, also highlighting that he had not received the kind of substantial support Makinde did, such as a N50 billion grant for victims of the January 2024 explosion in Bodija, Ibadan, and questioned the expenditure of such funds.

Governor Makinde, through his Special Adviser on Media, Dr. Sulaimon Olanrewaju, maintained his position that the rift with Wike stemmed from the minister's efforts to foster a one-party state by weakening the PDP for President Tinubu in 2027. Makinde recounted being in a meeting with President Tinubu, Wike, and others, where Wike allegedly volunteered to "hold down the PDP for Tinubu against the 2027 election," a statement that he found shocking and concerning for Nigeria's multiparty democracy. Makinde firmly stated his refusal to support such a political maneuver.

Wike further clarified the nature of the meeting Makinde referred to, denying it was a clandestine one-on-one session or a pre-arranged strategic political deal. He explained it was a group visit after the general elections, involving himself and former governors Samuel Ortom, Okezie Ikpeazu, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, and Seyi Makinde, to discuss "certain things" with the President. Wike even recalled inviting the President’s Chief of Staff to join them to help reiterate their points, thereby dismissing any suggestion of a secret plot to weaken the PDP. He labeled Makinde’s allegations as "very unfair" and attributed them to "sheer frustration."

In addition to the dispute with Makinde, Wike also addressed his ongoing political feud with Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, declaring the conflict unresolved and stating that "all can never be well in politics." He directly challenged Fubara’s recent insinuations, made during his defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC), about individuals covertly supporting Tinubu from the shadows, interpreting them as targeting him. Wike reiterated his open and decisive support for President Tinubu, crediting it for influencing broader support during the elections and contrasting his transparent political actions with those of "unreliable actors."

Furthermore, Wike issued a stern warning to the PDP leadership, urging them to resolve the party’s internal wrangling ahead of the 2027 general elections or risk losing major electoral contests. He criticized the party’s leadership as unfocused and unresponsive to suggestions, emphasizing the necessity for the leadership to acknowledge mistakes, rebuild, and make correct decisions for 2027 to prevent the party from faltering. Wike also mocked the November 15 PDP National Convention held in Ibadan, accusing Governor Makinde of being desperate for total control of the party and obtaining an ex parte order to facilitate the event.

In Rivers State, Wike declared that members of both the APC and PDP have effectively transcended partisan differences to embrace President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. He stated that political labels are secondary to unity and a collective commitment to development, proclaiming, "In Rivers State, APC and PDP have already collapsed into one family, the Renewed Hope family." Wike stressed that collaboration across party lines is driven by shared values and mutual respect, urging people to work together as members of "one family." His visit to Etche and Omuma local government areas was described as an expression of gratitude for longstanding support, emphasizing unity as crucial for political and economic progress and stability.

The Peoples Democratic Party's National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Ini Ememobong, responded to Wike's comments by reaffirming the party's commitment to fielding a credible presidential candidate and winning in 2027, thereby contradicting Wike’s implied outlook for the party. Ememobong accused Wike of being the "number one supporter" of the APC’s presumptive 2027 presidential candidate and engaging in "anti-party activities" as a "constant agent provocateur." The party stated that Wike’s politics thrives on "perpetual conflict" and seeking relevance through "calculated disruption," asserting that his public declaration to support the APC candidate unmasked his group's "clandestine agreement" to destroy the PDP for selfish reasons. The PDP reminded Wike, a lawyer, that illegal agreements are unenforceable and assured Nigerians that no single individual can personalize the party.