Makinde: PDP Cleansed of Disruptive Elements, Party Now Stable

 

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has declared that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has rid itself of individuals he described as destabilising forces, insisting that the party is now more united and better organised.

Makinde made the remark on Tuesday during the unveiling of the Oyo State PDP secretariat in Ibadan, where he addressed party members and stakeholders on recent internal developments.

Using a Yoruba proverb to illustrate his point, the governor said a peaceful household is often free of troublesome influences, adding that the PDP had undergone a necessary internal cleansing.

According to him, the party’s loss at the federal level in 2015 created a leadership vacuum that allowed certain elements to gain undue control and influence within its structure.

“When the PDP lost power nationally in 2015, there was a leadership gap. Under normal circumstances, such individuals would not have found their way into positions of authority within the party,” Makinde said.

He noted that the group held sway for nearly a decade but was removed from the party’s affairs in November 2025, restoring order and discipline to its ranks.

“They had their time for about 10 years, but that chapter has closed. The party has moved on from that era,” he stated.

Makinde also clarified that his administration is not involved in the party’s internal legal battles or leadership tussles at the national level, stressing a clear separation between governance and party disputes.

“The government is focused on governance and service delivery. We are not part of the PDP’s legal or national leadership issues,” he added.

Reflecting on his political alignment in the past, the governor admitted he once worked closely with the group but has since distanced himself.

“I will be honest — when I came into office in 2019 and approaching the 2023 elections, I aligned with them at a point. But I have since withdrawn that support,” he said.

He further ruled out any possibility of backing efforts by the former faction to regain control of the party structure, maintaining that their influence has significantly declined.

Makinde expressed confidence that the PDP in Oyo State is now repositioned for stability and progress going forward.