Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has rubbished rumours that he's planning to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC), insisting he remains firmly in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Makinde spoke on Thursday after a meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the State House, Abuja. Responding to questions on whether he plans to join the APC like some governors, he said he is “comfortable in the PDP.”

He, however, pointed out that specific moments in a nation’s history require bipartisan cooperation, emphasizing that Nigeria’s development should be seen not as a contest between APC and PDP, but as a collective effort centered on the nation's best interests.

“I am comfortable in the PDP,” he stated.

Makinde maintained that addressing Nigerian problems requires bi-partisan approach with contributions from all political parties in the interest of the country.

“We may have issues in this country where you need a bipartisan approach, where there won’t be an issue of APC talking alone or PDP talking alone; where we will have to look at what is the best foot forward in the interest of our nation. So, when you get to that junction, you need everybody on board,” he said.


Fayose reveals untold story of what happened when Makinde visited Tinubu in Villa


Former governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, has revealed what happened during the meeting between Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State and President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Thursday.

While many were made to believe that the meeting was all about Makinde seeking Tinubu's support for the development of Oyo State, Fayose revealed otherwise.

In a statement made available to MyNigeria, he said, "Here is the true story of what happened in the Villa when Governor Seyi Makinde visited the President today.

"First, Governor Seyi Makinde demonstrated that he now lacked enough courage to face the President alone; he had to enlist the support of the Plateau State Governor.

"The President told him that if it was about official matters regarding Oyo State, he will listen to him.

"But if it had to do with politics and any claim that it was Wike that angered him to go on TV to accuse him (President) of plotting to turn the country to a one-party state, it is better to, as usual, go on TV to say all he (Makinde) had to say."

Fayose said Tinubu told Makinde pointedly that he can't come to the closet on political matters to eat his words while saying something else to the public.

"Furthermore, the President told Governor Makinde that he was not expecting any support from him regarding 2027, and that he should also expect that he (President) will support his party.

"Lastly, the President made it clear to Makinde that Wike is someone whose support and consistency he (President) can't deny or wish away. Therefore, if Makinde has issues with Wike, that is between the two of them; I should be left out of it.

"That's why Makinde told the press that he's comfortable in PDP. It's because of the reality that there's nothing for him in APC.

"And after this meeting, shouldn't Makinde tell the people of Oyo State if he has returned the N30bn he admitted to have received from the Federal Government as intervention fund for the January 2023 Ibadan explosion?" Fayose said.

ASA