“Makinde’s Presidential Ambition Is dead On Arrival” — Wike Fires Back At Oyo Governor

Seyi Makinde's declared bid for the 2027 presidency has drawn immediate backlash from Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. Speaking to journalists on Thursday during an inspection of the 13-kilometer Gomani-Yangoji road project in Abuja, Wike dismissed Makinde's ambition as "dead on arrival." The comment came hours after the Oyo State governor announced his presidential intention at a joint rally in Ibadan involving factions of the Peoples Democratic Party and the Allied Peoples Movement. Makinde had used the platform to criticise the current state of the nation, stating that Nigerians were struggling daily to survive. Wike rejected the idea of a formal PDP-APM alliance, calling it fraudulent and likening it to a "419" scam. He insisted the Independent National Electoral Commission has no record of such a coalition. According to Wike, the arrangement is merely a vehicle for Makinde to advance his personal ambition under the APM banner. He clarified that the PDP would present its own candidate in 2027, with no internal discussions about merging with APM, citing Governor Bala Mohammed as confirmation. Wike also highlighted the progress on the Gomani-Yangoji road, linking its expected inauguration to the third anniversary of President Bola Tinubu's administration. He described the project as evidence of the government's focus on extending development to satellite communities and curbing rural-urban migration.

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