The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has declared that the presidential ambition of Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, is “dead on arrival”.
Wike made the remark on Thursday while speaking with journalists during an inspection of road projects in Abuja, hours after the Oyo governor declared his presidential ambition in Ibadan.
During his declaration at the joint mega-rally of the PDP and APM, Makinde stated that the country’s situation has “continued to deteriorate, putting the majority of Nigerians on survival mode daily.
The governor added that government officials responsible for citizens’ welfare have abdicated their duties.
Reacting, Wike dismissed claims of a political alliance between the Peoples Democratic Party and the Allied Peoples Movement, describing the arrangement as a “fraud”.
“That’s the 419 we are talking about. INEC also knows that there is no such thing as a PDP-APM alliance,” he said.
The minister further accused some opposition figures of misleading Nigerians with claims of a formal agreement or memorandum of understanding between both parties.
Wike maintained that the Independent National Electoral Commission has no record of any such alliance, adding that the PDP remains independent in its electoral preparations.
“The screening of aspirants by the Abdulrahman Mohammed PDP faction clearly indicates that the party is independent and not in any alliance,” he stated.
He also argued that Makinde’s political moves were behind the alleged arrangement, insisting that no such coalition exists.
“What you have is Seyi Makinde joining APM to be able to actualise his presidential ambition, which is already dead on arrival,” Wike said.
Wike insisted that the PDP would present its own presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections, urging Nigerians to disregard speculation about any merger or coalition.
He further referenced Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, noting that no discussion of a PDP–APM alliance was raised during his engagements within the party structure.
“It’s unfortunate. We know that has been his game plan, and we would say he cannot fly the flag of PDP,” Wike said of Makinde.
When asked about comments relating to internal matters in the All Progressives Congress, Wike declined to engage, stressing that it was not his concern.
He further noted that party disputes are strictly internal affairs.
Earlier during the inspection, Wike expressed satisfaction with progress on the 13-kilometre Gomani-Yangoji road project, saying it was on track for inauguration during activities marking President Bola Tinubu’s third anniversary in office in June. Bola Tinubu
He added that the project reflects a broader policy to extend infrastructure beyond city centres into satellite communities in order to reduce rural-urban migration.
“Remember that when we came on board, one of the directives of Mr President was that we should not concentrate development and provision of infrastructure only in the cities. We must open up all the satellite towns in order to discourage rural-urban migration,” Wike said.
