…canvasses consensus arrangement to guide candidates’ selection
CHIGOZIE AMADI
Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has declared that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) elective congress held in the state in November last year will stand “no matter what”, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to the party’s preparations ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Makinde made this known on Monday evening during a high-level stakeholders’ meeting held at the Oyo State Local Government Service Commission, Secretariat, Ibadan.
The meeting brought together cabinet members, party leaders, political appointees and key loyalists to deliberate on the party’s direction amid internal challenges and the broader national political climate.
Makinde’s stance came against the backdrop of a deepening PDP crisis rooted in a legal tussle arising from intense leadership disputes surrounding the party’s national convention held in Ibadan in November 2025.
Recall that factions disagreed over the convention’s legitimacy and opposed the Dr Taminu Turaki-led National Working Committee amid conflicting court orders that saw the convention proceed despite prior Federal High Court rulings warning against it, which were later nullified by the Ibadan Federal High Court.
The situation was further complicated by internal factionalism involving opposing blocs, including loyalists of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and allegations of disobedience to judicial process, all of which triggered litigation challenging the legitimacy of the leadership that emerged.
The governor, however, emphasised that, despite ongoing disputes within the PDP at the national level, the party in Oyo State remained resolute and focused, stressing that ensuring the PDP’s presence on the ballot in 2027 is “sacrosanct”, underscoring its non-negotiable importance to the party’s strategy.
He noted that the PDP is currently grappling with “two extremes”, which he described as a “war” and a “battle”.
According to him, the “war” concerned aspirants seeking elective positions in the 2027 elections, while the “battle” centred on guaranteeing that the party and its candidates are duly listed on the ballot.
Addressing concerns about internal divisions, Makinde assured his supporters that he and his political camp would remain within the PDP and contest the 2027 elections on its platform.
“We’re comfortable in our PDP,” the governor said, dismissing rumours of a possible defection to another party.
He further disclosed that the party would adopt a consensus approach in selecting its candidates for the forthcoming elections, noting that such a strategy would help maintain unity and reduce internal friction.
Makinde also revealed that all first-term elected lawmakers at both the National Assembly and State Assembly levels would be returned unopposed, signalling a reward system for loyalty and performance within the party ranks.
Providing further insight into the outcome of the nearly two-hour closed-door meeting, the governor, during an interview shortly after the meeting, explained that discussions focused on evaluating both the national political situation and developments within Oyo State, particularly in light of the PDP’s internal crises.
“Anyway, it’s just a meeting on our party that brought everybody together for us to evaluate the political situation in the country and also Oyo State in particular.“
“And also with all the crises within PDP, you know, what do we need to do? How do we proceed? And also the issue of our candidate, you know,“ the governor said.
He stressed the need for unity across all levels of the party structure, urging stakeholders to return to their constituencies, spanning state, federal and senatorial districts, to consult widely.
“We believe that there must be unity within the party, and they were advised to go back to their local governments and constituencies. And then we’ll come to the state. If our candidates can emerge by consensus, we’ll be happy,” Makinde added.
On the broader challenges facing the PDP, the governor acknowledged ongoing legal disputes and leadership tensions at the national level.
“We have all sorts of issues. You have court cases, and then we have our leaders and elders at the national level also, you know, that are pulling together to see that we find a solution,” he said.
Makinde, despite the challenges, reposed confidence in the party’s ability to resolve its differences and remain competitive, insisting that unity and strategic coordination would be key to its success in 2027.
