Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Ezenwo Nyesom Wike has sparked controversy by declaring he handed down the political “structure” that secured governorship ticket of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State in the buildup to the 2019 general election.
Wike made this assertion during an interaction with selected journalists in Port Harcourt. The statement intensifies the ongoing feud between Wike and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, once allies in the PDP’s G-5 governors group.
Governor Makinde first ignited the latest round of exchanges by alleging that Wike pledged to “hold down” the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election during a private meeting. Makinde recounted being shocked when Wike volunteered this commitment in the presence of Tinubu and other officials, claiming it undermined multiparty democracy.
But Wike dismissed Makinde’s account as fabricated, insisting that he never made such a promise to Tinubu.
Wike, however, fired his salvo by accusing Makinde of disloyalty to the PDP, citing the governor’s history of party-hopping from PDP to ANPP in 2007 and SDP in 2015, before returning to PDP.
Wike’s reference to political structure in Oyo implies control over party machinery, loyalists, and voter networks capable of swaying party primaries.
“That time Seyi Makinde made his $1 million, I was the chairman of one of the most important LGAs in this country. I didn’t choose to be a contractor. I chose to have power, and I have the power.
“In 2007, he ran under ANPP as Senator, he lost. In 2013, they brought him to me to give him Oyo State PDP structure. I refused and gave it to Teslim Folarin. He went to SDP to run for governor. He failed with his $1 million.
“It was before 2019 he came back and we say now, we are ready to give him structure. I was already grounded in politics, and I had no $1 million, but the man with $1 million was going around to look for people to give him structure.
“It was when we gave him structure that Seyi now became Governor,” Wike said.
The former Rivers State governor alleged that Makinde deliberately orchestrated events aimed at undermining the party’s national leadership, particularly the office of the National Secretary.
“He went and arranged with some people to make sure the National Secretary is absent,” Wike claimed.
“He lured people to the State High Court in Enugu when he knew that the State High Court has no jurisdiction over the party,” Wike said. “They got the judgment and we said, no problem.”
Wike explained that despite internal disagreements, efforts were made to resolve the matter amicably, noting that Senator Samuel Anyanwu eventually emerged as the PDP National Secretary. “Sam Anyanwu won,” he stated.
“We told him that the convention is coming, just hold on. It is remaining one year. After that, those that we don’t want to come back will not come back.”
He accused Makinde of rejecting the proposed political compromise and escalating the matter to the Supreme Court, where the case was eventually lost.
“He refused and went to the Supreme Court, then he lost,” Wike said.
The FCT minister further noted that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) later affirmed Anyanwu as the legitimate National Secretary of the PDP.
“Until when they went to INEC, INEC told them that Sam Anyanwu is the Secretary of PDP,” he added.
Wike said several reconciliation meetings were held involving key party leaders in an effort to maintain unity, but alleged that Makinde consistently acted contrary to agreements reached.
“Senator Bukola Saraki can bear me witness,” he said. “We have gone to his guest house several times. Governor Fintiri was there.”
“There is nothing we agreed to do that Makinde will not go and do a different thing,” Wike added, “and that is why we are where we are today.”
The minister further alleged Makinde joined the G-5 governors solely to secure his 2023 re-election and worked against Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke in 2022 to remain the sole PDP governor in the Southwest.
