Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has dismissed the presidential ambition of Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, describing it as “dead on arrival.”
Wike made the remark on Thursday while speaking with journalists during the inspection of ongoing road projects in the Gomani-Yangoje area of the Kwali Area Council, Abuja.
His comments followed Makinde’s declaration of interest in the 2027 presidential race under the platform of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Makinde’s move reportedly came after the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between his faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the APM.
Reacting to the development, Wike alleged that Makinde’s alliance with the APM was part of a strategy to pursue his presidential ambition outside the PDP.
He said:
“What you have is Seyi Makinde joining APM to be able to actualise his presidential ambition, which is already dead on arrival.”
The FCT minister added that Makinde would not emerge as the PDP’s presidential flagbearer.
“It’s unfortunate. We know that has been his game plan, and we would say he cannot fly the flag of PDP,” Wike stated.
Wike also dismissed reports suggesting that Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed had endorsed a PDP-APM alliance, insisting that such claims existed only in the imagination of political observers.
The minister further reacted to remarks linked to Rivers State Governor Sim Fubara regarding his political affiliation.
According to Wike, there was no reason for anyone to pity Fubara, stressing that the governor had made it clear he still belongs to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“Sorry for what? Why are you saying problem when nobody has told you he has a problem?” Wike asked.
“The man has told you he still remains APC. So what is the problem now?”
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