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,” dismissing the move as politically untenable.
Wike made the statement on Thursday, May 14, while addressing journalists during an inspection of road projects in Abuja, hours after Makinde publicly declared his presidential ambition in Ibadan.
The FCT minister alleged that Makinde’s strategy involved aligning with the APM to advance his presidential bid, maintaining that such efforts would not succeed.
“What you have is Seyi Makinde joining APM to be able to actualise his presidential ambition, which is already dead on arrival,” Wike said.
Reacting to the development, the minister rejected claims of a political alliance between the Peoples Democratic Party and the Allied Peoples Movement, describing the alleged arrangement as deceptive.
“That’s the 419 we are talking about. INEC also knows that there is no such thing as a PDP-APM alliance,” he said.
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Wike accused some opposition figures of misleading Nigerians with suggestions of a formal agreement between both parties, insisting that no such coalition exists.
He argued that the absence of any record with the Independent National Electoral Commission confirms that the PDP remains independent in its political activities.
“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 added that the PDP would present its own presidential candidate for the 2027 elections and urged Nigerians to disregard speculation about any merger or coalition.
Referring to internal party engagements, Wike noted that no such alliance was discussed during meetings involving Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed.
“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.