Wike: I Never Promised Tinubu Control of PDP

 

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has firmly denied claims that he promised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu he would “hold” the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for him ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Wike described the allegation, credited to Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, as false, unfair and a deliberate misrepresentation of facts.

Speaking on Monday during a live media chat on Channels Television, the former Rivers State governor said no such meeting ever took place and that he never made any statement suggesting he would deliver the PDP to President Tinubu.

Reacting to Makinde’s comments during a media interaction in Ibadan last week, Wike questioned the basis of the claim and the motive behind it.

“That is very unfair. Very, very unfair. Totally unfair,” Wike said. “What was that meeting? What was the purpose of that meeting that would have led me to say, ‘Mr President, I will hold PDP for you?’ There was no such meeting.”

Makinde had alleged that he was present at a meeting involving President Tinubu, Wike and others, where Wike reportedly volunteered to secure the PDP for the President in 2027, a claim the Oyo governor said shocked him.

According to Makinde, while Wike was free to support Tinubu, he (Makinde) would not be part of such an arrangement and had made his position clear, insisting on his right to make independent political choices.

Responding, Wike maintained that the visit to the President referenced by Makinde was merely a post-election courtesy call by some former governors to discuss national issues, not a politically motivated meeting.

“There was nothing like a meeting where I told Mr President I would hold PDP for him,” he insisted, adding that several people, including members of the G5, were allegedly present and could attest to what transpired.

Wike further accused Makinde of acting out of frustration and linked the ongoing crisis within the PDP to internal ambition, leadership struggles and disregard for due process, rather than any alleged alliance with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

“If you watch him, you will see frustration. Frustration can make you do a lot of things that will damage the party,” Wike said.

He argued that the PDP’s current challenges stem from internal divisions, failure to respect court judgments and refusal to heed the counsel of party elders, warning against blaming external forces for the party’s woes.

According to him, the crisis rocking the opposition party could have been avoided if its leaders had acted with restraint and respect for established party structures.