Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has provided insight into the decision by governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to distance themselves from the proposed coalition involving former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, ex-Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, and Labour Party’s Peter Obi.
In a televised interview on Channels TV, Governor Makinde stated that the coalition talks were not sanctioned by the PDP’s official structures and had no formal backing from the party leadership. According to him, the governors could not support an initiative that bypassed established party processes and organs.
“We didn’t just wake up and say me as xyz in the party just draw the party into any arrangements when the party organs do not have clue on what you are doing,” Makinde said during the interview. “They have no clue of what is in this coalition. They also have no clue whether this is personal or whether you are doing this in best interest of the party and the people of Nigeria. Those are critical.”
The comments came in the wake of a coalition announcement made on March 20 at the Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja. At the event, Atiku and several political figures, including El-Rufai, unveiled plans to unite against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.
However, PDP governors have issued a communique dissociating themselves from the initiative. Makinde explained that the decision was the result of extensive consultations and strategic deliberations held in Ibadan, which included not only PDP governors but also top party officials.
“The acting National Chairman, National Legal Adviser and the National Organizing Secretary were there with us,” he said. “Other members of the NWC were waiting around the venue of the meeting, just in case there would be any need for them.”
Makinde further stressed the importance of proper procedure and unity within the party. “There must be a process. If the managers of the party, the organs of the party are going into a merger or coalition, there’s need for the managers of the party to know,” he said.
While acknowledging that individual politicians have the right to form alliances, he cautioned that such moves should not be mistaken for party positions. “But, if you have individuals, it is still within their right to associate with whoever they want to associate with. However, as a party, we haven’t gotten there. Our first assignment is to put the party on a sound pedestal.”
“Politics is a game of interest. You must be interested, you must have alignment with the wider organs of your party before you go out to meet other people,” he added.