Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has dismissed speculation that he plans to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), affirming that he will remain with the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) despite its ongoing leadership crisis.
Makinde made the statement on Wednesday in Abuja during the public presentation of a book titled “Headlines and Soundbites: Media Moments that Defined an Administration”, written by former Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.
Speaking before an audience of dignitaries drawn from across party lines, the governor rejected reports linking him to recent defections by some PDP governors to the APC, making it clear that he has no intention of following that path.
“I am not APC, and I am not about to become APC,” Makinde said.
He stressed that Nigeria’s progress requires sincere collaboration among leaders regardless of political affiliation, noting that national development cannot thrive in an atmosphere of partisan hostility.
Makinde blamed the country’s growing divisions on political elites, accusing them of prioritising personal ambitions over the collective will of the people. According to him, while most Nigerians desire unity and peaceful coexistence, these values are often exploited along religious, ethnic and regional lines for political gain.
He also criticised the prevailing “winner-takes-all” approach to politics, warning that it promotes exclusion and undermines national cohesion.
The governor called for deliberate efforts to build political and governance frameworks anchored on fairness, inclusion and long-term stability, arguing that such an approach is essential for strengthening democracy and fostering sustainable national unity.
