Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has dismissed speculations about a possible defection from the Peoples Democratic Party, saying he remains firmly in the opposition party and has no intention of leaving.
Makinde spoke with journalists on Thursday at the State House, Abuja, shortly after a visit to the Presidential Villa, where he met with Tinubu amid growing political realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Responding to questions about his political future, the governor was emphatic in his response. “No, no, no. I am comfortable in the PDP,” he said.
Makinde explained that national issues sometimes require cooperation across party lines, noting that engagement with leaders from other political parties should not be misinterpreted as plans to defect.
“And again, we may have issues in this country where you need a bipartisan approach. It should not be about APC talking alone or PDP talking alone. We must always look at what is best for the country,” he said. “When you get to that junction, you need everybody on board.”
The governor’s comments followed reports of separate meetings between Tinubu and two opposition governors, Makinde and Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, at the Presidential Villa. Mutfwang reportedly arrived earlier, while Makinde arrived later in the afternoon.
The meetings have fueled political discussions, especially as several opposition figures have recently defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress.
Makinde remains one of the few PDP governors yet to leave the party despite the wave of defections. He is also widely believed to be nursing a presidential ambition ahead of the 2027 election and is considered a potential contender for the PDP presidential ticket.
Mutfwang, on the other hand, recently moved from the PDP to the APC, making Thursday’s visit his first known engagement with Tinubu since his defection.
