2027: Wike denies Makinde’s declare on ‘holding down’ PDP for Tinubu

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has denied claims that he promised President Bola Tinubu that he would “maintain down” the Peoples Democratic Party forward of the 2027 presidential election.

The denial comes amid tensions inside the PDP, which escalated final week when Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, accused Wike of promising Tinubu that he would maintain the opposition get together down for him.

Talking throughout an end-of-the-year media chat on Monday, Wike described Makinde’s allegation as a blatant lie and instructed that the Oyo State governor was “annoyed” and lacked the braveness to brazenly declare his personal presidential ambitions.

“Seyi Makinde has by no means known as me Wike. That’s the first time I’ve heard him calling me Wike. It’s unlucky.

“To begin with, you ask your self, what was that assembly? What was the aim of that assembly? That may have led me to say, Mr President, I’ll maintain PDP down for you.”

The previous Rivers State governor queried why, if the allegation had been true, Makinde didn’t increase the problem earlier after the alleged assembly with the president.

“Why did Seyi Makinde not come up all this whereas to inform the get together, see what Wike is doing? I used to be in a gathering. I noticed what Wike stated. It’s not right,” he stated.

Setting the file straight, Wike stated: “There was no such assembly. Somewhat, my humble self, the previous governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, the previous governor of Abia State, Okezie Ikpeazu, the previous governor of Enugu State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, and Seyi Makinde, went to see the president.

“We went to see the president after elections had been over, to debate sure issues. Whereas we had been there, the Chief of Employees — it is best to know that the Chief of Employees is at all times across the president.

“I used to be the one who stated, look, Chief of Employees, come and sit down, so we will remind the president of what we now have mentioned. There was nothing like a gathering we booked to go and see Mr President. So, it’s utterly misplaced for anyone to say that in that assembly I advised Mr President that I’d maintain PDP down for him.”

Describing the declare as “very, completely unfair,” Wike stated the Oyo State governor was annoyed.

“I’ve advised everyone, frustration — if you happen to can see it, if you happen to watch Seyi Makinde, you may see frustration. And this younger man, we now have suggested severely.

“Politics isn’t like being a contractor with Shell. Politics isn’t like being a contractor. It has completely different guidelines.

“When did Seyi Makinde come into politics? There may be nothing improper with having ambition, however the ambition have to be pursued in line with the foundations.”

The controversy stems from Makinde’s revelations throughout a media chat final week, the place he detailed a personal 2023 assembly involving himself, Wike and Tinubu.

In line with Makinde, Wike voluntarily pledged to undermine the PDP to help Tinubu’s re-election bid, with none prompting from the president.

“Wike stated he was going to carry the PDP down for President Tinubu,” Makinde claimed throughout a public handle, explaining the foundation of their fallout.

He additional expressed remorse over supporting Tinubu within the 2023 elections and vowed to not again him in 2027, citing considerations over Nigeria’s democratic survival.