According to The Punch, it was reported that for a long time, Makinde and Wike have been on the same side within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), even as the party has been divided due to internal disagreements. Before the 2023 general elections, Wike led a group of five PDP governors, known as the G-5, including Makinde, to oppose the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
Right now, the party is also facing another dispute over whether the acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, should remain in office or step down. Wike supports Damagum staying in his position, and Makinde, along with three other governors, agrees with him. However, another group of governors, led by Bauchi State Governor and PDP Governors’ Forum Chairman Bala Mohammed, wants a change in leadership.
Despite this shared stance on Damagum, there was a noticeable shift when Makinde attended a PDP governors’ meeting in Asaba, Delta State, over the weekend. At the meeting, Makinde sided with Bala Mohammed’s group in rejecting Samuel Anyanwu, who is Wike’s preferred choice, as the National Secretary of the party.
During the meeting, the PDP governors unanimously recognized Sunday Ude-Okoye, Anyanwu’s rival, as the official PDP National Secretary. This decision was widely seen as a setback for Wike.
A source explained that the PDP governors had grown tired of Wike’s strong influence over the party. Because of this, they decided to oppose his candidate and instead support Ude-Okoye for the position of National Secretary.
When asked on Sunday if this meant that the once-friendly relationship between Makinde and Wike had fallen apart, Makinde’s Chief Press Secretary dismissed the speculation.
He said, “I have no idea what you are talking about,” Olanrewaju said. “I am not aware of any crack between Governor Seyi Makinde and the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike. The governor is mourning now so I don’t know where you got the information of a crack between them from. I am not aware of any crack whatsoever.CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
