Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has dismissed speculation that he may defect from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), insisting that he remains firmly committed to the opposition party despite recent defections by some of its members.
Makinde spoke on Thursday after meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, a visit that had fuelled rumours that he might be considering a move to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Responding to questions on whether he was planning to join the APC, the governor stated unequivocally that he had no such intention, stressing that he was satisfied with his current political platform.
“I am comfortable in the PDP,” Makinde said, putting an end to speculation surrounding his political future.
The governor, however, noted that Nigeria’s challenges often require cooperation beyond party lines, arguing that a bipartisan approach is sometimes necessary to move the country forward.
According to him, there are situations where both the ruling and opposition parties must work together in the national interest, rather than adopting rigid partisan positions.
Makinde arrived at the Aso Villa shortly after Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, who recently defected from the PDP to the APC. Both governors were received separately before proceeding to the president’s office.
The Oyo governor was a key member of the G5 group of PDP governors who opposed the emergence of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the party’s presidential candidate ahead of the 2023 general election, citing zoning concerns. During the election, Makinde and other G5 members openly supported Tinubu, who eventually won the presidency.
