Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde
Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has issued a strong warning to elements within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) allegedly plotting to disrupt the party’s upcoming National Convention.
Speaking in Abuja after the inaugural meeting of the PDP National Convention Transportation Sub-committee, which he chairs, Makinde urged aggrieved members to set aside personal interests and support the party’s collective mission.
“This meeting is simply a signal that the train for the PDP National Convention has already left the station,” Makinde said. “Anyone trying to derail it is essentially attempting political suicide. My sincere advice: don’t do it. We don’t want to lose anyone—no matter your rank or past issues.”
When pressed on whether his comments targeted any specific individuals or factions within the PDP, Makinde avoided naming names, emphasizing instead the party’s broader goal of presenting itself as a credible alternative for Nigerians.
He reflected on the PDP’s journey since 1999, noting that the party had endured significant highs and lows, including the historic loss of power in 2015. According to him, these experiences have only strengthened the party’s democratic foundation.
“What matters now is that Nigerians have a functioning democracy and a party they can identify with,” he said. “Yes, there are defections, and yes, we may have internal issues, but democracy thrives on conflict resolution and resilience.”
Responding to questions about recent high-profile exits from the party, the governor remained unfazed.
“We’re not losing sleep over defections. The real judges are the Nigerian people. When ordinary citizens start defecting to the APC out of hunger or frustration, then we’ll have cause for concern. Until then, it’s business as usual,” he stated.
Makinde also addressed calls for constitutional amendments to limit party-switching, suggesting Nigeria’s democracy was still maturing and would naturally evolve—just like those in older democracies such as the US and UK.
On speculation tying his active role in organizing the convention to personal ambitions ahead of 2027, Makinde was clear: building the party comes first.
“I’ve said it time and again—I’m old enough to define my own goals,” he remarked. “But there’s no ambition without a solid party platform. So right now, the mission is simple: make sure Oyo State delivers the best PDP convention in history.”
Makinde concluded by reaffirming his readiness to serve both the party and the nation in any capacity, describing his role as transportation sub-committee chairman as part of that larger commitment.
NAN
