Oyo Governor, Seyi Makinde speaks amid wave of defections to APC

Oyo Governor, Seyi Makinde speaks amid wave of defections to APC

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has expressed concern over the wave of defections affecting the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), describing the current situation as a difficult phase for both the party and Nigeria’s democratic system.

Despite the party now having only two governors, he insisted that the development does not discourage him.

The PDP’s number of governors dropped on Monday after Dauda Lawal, governor of Zamfara State, announced his resignation from the party.

His departure left Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State and Makinde as the only governors still representing the PDP.

Speaking on Tuesday at an expanded meeting of the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT) in Abuja, Makinde acknowledged that the party was going through a challenging moment, which he said also reflects a broader test for democracy in Nigeria.

He explained that he had consulted several political figures with deep knowledge of Nigeria’s political development and noted that many of them had never witnessed a situation like the present one.

According to him, “I have been speaking with people that should know who have been involved in the political evolution of this country. And none of them have seen a political landscape like what we are witnessing today.”

Makinde, however, maintained that the shrinking number of PDP governors would not weaken his resolve. “I can only say, we are only two remaining, but we are not bothered,” he said.

He urged party leaders and members to stay mindful of how history will judge their actions during the present political climate.

“When the story of this period is told, when the story of democracy in Nigeria is told, they will find us on the side of the people. So please, I can only say that this period will also go away. It will pass away,” Makinde stated.

He further stressed the need for party stakeholders to reflect on the roles they play during this period, saying, “So whatever role we want to play as individuals and collectively as a party, we must be conscious of what history is going to record against or for us for this period.”

Also speaking at the meeting, former Senate President Adolphus Wabara said the party must focus on resolving its current challenges. He described a recent Appeal Court judgment affecting the PDP as an opportunity for the party to reorganize.

“An order for the party to begin again. We are more, we respect the law. So this is an opportunity for us to begin again. And that’s why we are all here,” Wabara said.

He explained that the gathering was not intended for lengthy speeches but for serious deliberations on the party’s next steps.

“This meeting is not for speech making. It is a day that we have to be very serious with the decisions we are going to arrive at as we’ve always done with the Board,” he said.

Wabara emphasised that the PDP must strictly adhere to its constitution and the rule of law in addressing its internal issues.

“We obey the Constitution. We must work in accordance with the Constitution. And you can never go wrong if you abide by the Constitution and the rule of law,” he added.

He concluded by urging members to approach discussions with open minds as the party seeks a way forward amid the ongoing political turbulence.

“The whole idea of what is happening is to edge us out, but we will find our way, if we have an open mind. We should, in these meetings, keep an open mind and see how we can get ourselves back on track.”