Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has asserted that he remains committed to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and has no intention of defecting to the All Progressives Congress (APC), despite recent high-profile defections from his party.
He made the clarification on Thursday, January 22, 2026, after a meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Addressing journalists following the closed-door discussion, Makinde dismissed reports that his visit to the seat of federal power signalled plans to abandon the PDP for the ruling party.
“I am comfortable in the PDP,” Makinde said, rejecting speculation about a political realignment on his part. He emphasised that his engagement with the president focused on governance issues rather than party politics.
The governor said some national challenges require cooperation beyond partisan boundaries and that a bipartisan approach—involving contributions from both the ruling party and the opposition—is necessary for the country’s progress.
“There are moments in a country’s life when a bipartisan approach is required,” he told reporters, noting that effective governance sometimes requires engaging across political lines.
Makinde reaffirmed that his discussions with President Tinubu did not alter his political allegiance, stressing that Nigeria’s problems must be addressed collectively by all stakeholders.
He noted that the president is “the President of Nigeria, not the President of the APC,” and that their conversation centred on governance matters such as insecurity and economic challenges rather than party strategy.
Political observers have linked the meeting with Tinubu to broader political realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections, as actors across the political spectrum engage in strategic consultations.
The PDP has experienced a wave of defections in recent months, significantly reducing its number of governors, with only a few—including Makinde—remaining in the party.
Makinde’s stance contrasts with the moves by some of his colleagues, notably Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang, who recently defected from the PDP to the APC. Both governors were received separately at the Presidential Villa before meeting with President Tinubu on Thursday.
The Oyo governor was a prominent member of the G5 group of PDP governors that opposed the emergence of a northern presidential candidate in the party ahead of the 2023 general election.
At that time, he and other G5 governors withdrew support for the PDP’s candidate, citing internal party disagreements.
Makinde’s confirmation that he remains with the PDP comes amid ongoing debate within the opposition about strategy and survival in Nigeria’s evolving political landscape.
His reaffirmation of party loyalty signals continuity in his political positioning even as the nation approaches the next electoral cycle.
