Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, lashed out at former Rivers State Governor and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and his allies within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) vowing that he would not allow “vagabonds” to take control of the party and use it to install a rival political party in power.”
Makinde spoke on Tuesday, during the commissioning of the Oyo State PDP Secretariat at Oke Ado, Ibadan, declaring an end to indiscipline and internal sabotage in the party, comments widely interpreted as a direct response to the pro-Wike faction that has remained at odds with the PDP leadership following the 2023 general elections.
The governor said the internal crises rocking the PDP could be traced to the period after the party lost power at the federal level in 2015, a development he said created a leadership vacuum that emboldened reckless elements within the party.
“In Yorubaland, there is a saying that when a house or compound is peaceful, it is because the unruly elements there have not yet grown up. In the PDP, those unruly elements came of age in 2015.”
“They had their moment, almost a decade of disruption and recklessness, but they were firmly shown the way out in November 2025. Therefore, there is no longer any room for such behaviour in the PDP.”
Makinde said the vacuum that followed the PDP’s loss of federal power provided the opportunity for indiscipline to thrive, a situation that has continued to fuel factional battles linked to Wike and his loyalists.
“Whatever challenges we are witnessing today can be traced back to 2015, when the PDP lost power at the federal level and a leadership vacuum emerged,” he said.
“That vacuum created the opportunity for indiscipline to take root. Otherwise, those elements would never have been able to gain a foothold in our great party.”
In a rare personal admission, the governor acknowledged that he once aligned politically with some of the forces now destabilising the PDP, a relationship seen as a reference to his past association with Wike but said he had since severed ties.
“When I came into government in 2019, and even up to 2023, I found myself aligned with some of these forces. But I have since reflected, repented, and resolved never to allow that again.”
Makinde warned that any attempt by internal actors to hijack the PDP and use it to aid another political party, a charge repeatedly levelled against Wike following his alliance with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), would not be tolerated.
“For anyone to think they can hijack the PDP and use it to install another party in power is completely unacceptable, no, no, no,” he declared.
The governor expressed confidence that the judiciary would resolve all ongoing legal disputes involving the PDP in its favour, amid court cases arising from the party’s post-election crisis.
“Our leaders who spoke earlier repeatedly emphasised one thing: truth.Truth will always prevail. Lies may persist for years, even for decades but the day the truth finally emerges marks the end of falsehood,” Makinde said.
“I have absolute confidence in Nigeria’s judiciary. The courts will do what is right, because the judiciary remains the last hope of the common man and will deliver justice to the PDP.”
Makinde announced that the newly commissioned secretariat would be named Mustapha House in honour of Alhaji Omokunmi Mustapha, the former state chairman under whose leadership the PDP returned to power in Oyo State in 2019.
“After the PDP was out of power at the federal level from 2015, it was in 2019 that a chairman led the party back to power in Oyo State. That chairman is Alhaji Mustapha. In recognition of this legacy, this building will be named Mustafa House.”
He added that the title deed of the property would be formally handed over to the PDP National Chairman for onward transmission to the party’s Board of Trustees.
“This document before me is the title deed to this property. I will be formally handing it over to the National Chairman, who will in turn transmit it to the Board of Trustees, the body that holds the assets of the PDP in trust for the party,” Makinde said.
Reaffirming his loyalty to the PDP, Makinde said his political interest extended beyond Oyo State to the national stability of the party.
“My interest is not limited to Oyo State alone. I am deeply committed to the growth, stability, and unity of the PDP, not just at the state level, but nationally.”
Earlier, PDP South-West Chairman, Kamorudeen Ajisafe, described the commissioning of the secretariat as a demonstration of unity within the party in the region, particularly amid the ongoing national leadership crisis.
“On behalf of the entire South-West, I wish to express our profound gratitude. Today’s event stands as a clear demonstration that the South-West is united and firmly positioned within our great party,” Ajisafe said.
Ajisafe praised Makinde’s leadership, describing him as a man who keeps his word, adding that: “Your Excellency, we thank you sincerely for your commitment and for the promises you have made,” he said.
“You are a leader who remembers his words, and we earnestly pray that God will grant you the strength and wisdom to fulfil every one of those promises for the good of the people.”
In his remarks, Oyo State PDP Chairman, Dayo Ogungbenro, said the completion of the secretariat reflected the party’s resilience despite internal turmoil.
“When the idea of establishing this secretariat was first conceived, I was sceptical,” Ogungbenro said.
“At the time, I had just experienced an accident, and I questioned whether such an ambitious project was truly achievable, given the challenges the party had faced. I even wondered if we could only afford something as modest as providing lunch for members.”
He said his doubts lingered even after he was approached to serve the party, especially following the loss of a revered South-West leader.
“I questioned how this vision would materialise. But one thing I have come to realise is that our Chairman is not a man who makes promises lightly. Once he speaks, he follows through. Today, history has been made.”
Ogungbenro said the secretariat exceeded expectations and symbolised purposeful leadership.
“When I visited the facility, I was overwhelmed by its magnitude and quality. Many people have described it as befitting, impressive, and worthy of the party’s stature,” he said.
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