Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has openly admitted that supporting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2023 presidential election was a mistake, saying the decision did not deliver the national reset he expected. Speaking to journalists on Tuesday at the Government House in Ibadan, the governor said his hopes that Tinubu would govern in the broader interest of Nigeria have not materialised.
Makinde was a prominent member of the G5 governors—a group of five Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors who broke ranks with their party during the 2023 election. The group, led by former Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, worked against PDP’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, over zoning disagreements. Their argument was rooted in the belief that, after eight years of President Muhammadu Buhari from the North, equity demanded a southern presidential candidate.
Explaining his stance, Makinde said his support for Tinubu, who contested on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), was driven by optimism rather than party loyalty. He believed Tinubu would prioritise competence, inclusiveness, and national interest over partisan politics.
“I’m human. I supported the current president, even though he was in another party at the time, because I thought he would do what was right for the country,” Makinde said. He added that he expected the president to “reset the country” and assemble capable hands from across Nigeria to confront the nation’s deepening challenges.
However, the governor said recent developments under the current administration have left him disappointed. According to him, the direction of governance has fallen short of expectations, prompting deep reflection and regret. “But unfortunately, that is not what we’re seeing. I regret that action. Yes, I do,” he stated.
Looking ahead, Makinde made it clear that President Tinubu will not enjoy his support in the 2027 presidential election. He cited concerns about the survival of democracy, political balance, and the future of the PDP as key reasons for his decision. He stressed that democracy thrives on strong opposition and pluralism, warning against actions that could weaken party structures or concentrate power excessively.
Makinde also shed light on the long-simmering rift between himself and Nyesom Wike, now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory. According to the Oyo governor, tensions escalated after Wike reportedly told President Tinubu during a meeting that he would “hold PDP” for him ahead of the 2027 election—without consulting other party stakeholders.
“I was in a meeting with the President and Wike and a few others, and Wike said to the President that I will hold PDP for you against 2027,” Makinde recounted. “So we got up, and I asked Wike, did we agree to this?”
Makinde maintained that while Wike is free to support Tinubu’s re-election bid as an individual, no one has the mandate to mortgage the PDP or undermine its collective interests. He emphasized that party members also have the right—and responsibility—to resist moves that could weaken democratic competition in Nigeria.
The remarks mark one of Makinde’s strongest public criticisms yet of the political choices made during the 2023 election and signal a potential realignment as the country gradually edges toward the 2027 polls.