The former Ekiti governor says Seyi Makinde’s alleged ambition and political decisions contributed to the PDP’s troubles and his withdrawal from the party

Former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose has accused Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde of contributing significantly to the crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party, saying he eventually withdrew from the party after Makinde took control of its structure in Ekiti.

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Fayose made the claim during an appearance on TVC’s Politics Tonight, where he reflected on the internal disagreements that have weakened the PDP since the 2023 general elections.

The former governor linked what he described as Makinde’s political problems to alleged “inordinate ambition”, while questioning the decisions taken by members of the G-5 governors before the 2023 presidential election.

“Makinde caused these problems, even losing out in the PDP, he caused it. We all filed under the G-5 to contest the 2023 election. The question Nigerians should ask us is: what went wrong under the G-5?” Fayose said.

The G-5 was a group of five PDP governors who openly opposed the party’s decision to allow then-presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar to contest without a corresponding change in the party’s leadership structure.

The group was led by former Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike and included Makinde, Fayose’s successor in Ekiti, among others.

Fayose questioned the political trajectory of both Makinde and Wike following the G-5 dispute.

“Why is Makinde here? Why is Wike here? It’s very obvious that when you have inordinate ambition, you will have problems,” he said.

He also recalled an alleged conversation with Makinde after a campaign poster surfaced promoting the Oyo governor as a presidential candidate.

According to Fayose, he forwarded the material to Makinde, who subsequently called him and dismissed those behind the campaign as people seeking financial gain.

“He told me that if he wanted to contest, he would say it himself and he would not be the Yoruba man who would be used against another Yoruba man like Asiwaju. God is my witness, and let him deny it,” Fayose said.

Fayose’s comments point to the lingering political tensions among prominent PDP figures following the party’s defeat in the 2023 presidential election and the subsequent internal disputes over its leadership and direction.

The former Ekiti governor also alleged that Makinde later took control of the PDP structure in Ekiti State, a development he said contributed to his decision to distance himself from the party.

“Makinde took the whole structure of PDP from me and gave it to some characters that I don’t want to talk about, so I left the carcass of the party for him,” Fayose said.

His remarks reflect the extent to which disagreements among senior PDP politicians have continued to shape the party’s fortunes ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The party has faced repeated defections, leadership disputes and disagreements over its presidential strategy, with several prominent politicians exploring alternative political platforms.

The G-5 dispute remains particularly significant in the PDP’s recent history. While the governors initially presented their position as a demand for internal fairness and balance, their decision not to support Atiku during the 2023 election was widely viewed as a major blow to the party’s presidential campaign.

Makinde has remained a prominent figure in the PDP and one of the party’s most influential governors, while Wike later became a minister in President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

Fayose, meanwhile, has maintained a strong political presence despite stepping back from the governorship, frequently commenting on developments within the PDP and the broader opposition landscape.

His latest intervention is likely to add another layer to the debate over responsibility for the PDP’s difficulties, particularly as political actors begin positioning themselves ahead of 2027.

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Fayose’s allegations about Makinde’s motives and actions remain his personal account of events. Makinde’s response to the latest comments was not included in the report.