Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has dismissed speculation that he plans to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), declaring that he remains firmly in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) despite the party’s ongoing leadership challenges.
Makinde made the clarification on Wednesday in Abuja during the public presentation of a book titled Headlines and Soundbites: Media Moments that Defined an Administration, authored by former Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.
Addressing a gathering of dignitaries from across the political divide, the governor said he had no intention of joining PDP governors who have defected or are considering a move to the ruling party.
“I am not APC, and I am not about to become APC,” Makinde said.
The governor noted that Nigeria’s progress depends on sincere collaboration among leaders across party lines, stressing that governance should transcend partisan interests in the pursuit of national development.
He accused the political elite of deepening the country’s divisions by prioritising personal ambition over the collective will of the people, adding that while most Nigerians desire unity and peaceful coexistence, these aspirations are often manipulated along religious, ethnic and regional lines.
Makinde also criticised the “winner-takes-all” approach to politics, warning that it promotes exclusion and weakens national cohesion. He called for deliberate political and governance frameworks that encourage fairness, inclusion and long-term stability.
