The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has dismissed reports linking his recent disagreement with Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, to political rivalry or alleged presidential ambition ahead of the 2027 elections.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, Wike described the rumours as “nonsense,” insisting that his issues with Makinde were purely about maintaining discipline and order within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
“What’s that? We are talking about a breath of fresh air, and you are talking about crap,” Wike said in reaction to claims that he was uncomfortable with Makinde’s alleged 2027 presidential ambition.
“What do you mean by not being happy for him to be a presidential candidate? Let us not trivialise this.”
Wike, a former governor of Rivers State, said leadership aspirations should not be treated as a joke, warning that desperation could further destabilise the opposition party.
“It’s not about being a PhD holder or an engineer or a lawyer. It’s not about waking up one morning and saying, ‘I want to be a presidential candidate.’ No. Some people just want to run so they can control the party. But if you’re truly serious about leading, will you allow your party to be in this kind of crisis?” he asked.
He further questioned the contributions of some PDP members, declaring:
“Which of them has contributed to the PDP more than me, even up till now?”
When asked about the state of his relationship with Makinde, Wike dismissed suggestions that they were close friends, clarifying that they were merely political associates.
“What do you mean by friends? No, he was my colleague. We belong to the same political party, not friendship. We are political associates, and there is no law that says political associates must remain together,” he said.
On what caused their rift, Wike said it was a disagreement over internal party management.
“It is on the issue of keeping the PDP together, obeying the rules, and ensuring the party functions the way it should,” he explained.
He also rejected claims that he betrayed Makinde or other members of the G-5 group, saying he had always spoken candidly to Makinde about his conduct.
“When his elder brother died, I went with ex-Governors Ortom, Ugwuanyi, and Ikpeazu to pay him a condolence visit. I told him, ‘Seyi, the way you are going, you will destroy the party.’ I said, ‘Calm down, take it easy.’ But look at the situation today. What do you want me to do? I have never betrayed anybody and will never do so,” he maintained.
Wike added that Makinde had never personally informed him of any plan to run for president in 2027.
When pressed about the PDP’s future and the 2027 elections, Wike said conversations about candidates were premature, as the party was still struggling to rebuild its structure.
“Let’s get to the convention first. We are still trying to elect a new National Working Committee before we can talk about the national convention,” he said.
The rift between Wike and Makinde highlights yet another internal crisis within the PDP, which has struggled to maintain cohesion and unity since its defeat in the 2023 general elections.
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