Makinde Visits Aso Villa as Tinubu Holds Talks With Key PDP Figure

Oyo governor’s appearance at Presidency fuels fresh debate over opposition unity ahead of 2027

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has held a closed-door meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, a visit that is already stirring political speculation across party lines.

Makinde, a senior figure in the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), arrived at the State House shortly after Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang, who recently defected from the PDP to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Mutfwang was seen heading straight into the President’s office.

While the Presidency has not disclosed the agenda of the meeting, Makinde’s visit comes at a sensitive moment in Nigeria’s political landscape, with realignments and quiet negotiations intensifying ahead of the 2027 general election.

Makinde’s G5 history and Tinubu connection

The Oyo governor was a prominent member of the G5 group of PDP governors who openly opposed the party’s 2023 presidential ticket, insisting that power should rotate to the South after eight years under former President Muhammadu Buhari.

That stance ultimately saw the G5 work against PDP candidate Atiku Abubakar and align, directly or indirectly, with Tinubu’s successful presidential bid.

Other members of the influential bloc included former Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, ex-Benue Governor Samuel Ortom, former Enugu Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, and ex-Abia Governor Okezie Ikpeazu.

Crack between Makinde and Wike

Despite their shared political past, relations between Makinde and Wike have since deteriorated. Wike now serves as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) under Tinubu’s administration.

Makinde recently revealed that the rift was triggered by a meeting involving the President, where Wike allegedly declared he would “hold the PDP” for Tinubu ahead of the 2027 election.

“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 said. “So, we got up, and I asked Wike, did we agree to this?”

The Oyo governor stressed that while Wike is free to back Tinubu’s re-election, no individual has the authority to commit the PDP without broader consultation.

Political signals ahead of 2027

Makinde’s presence at Aso Villa is expected to fuel further debate over the future of the PDP, internal power struggles within the opposition, and the extent of Tinubu’s reach beyond the ruling APC.

With defections mounting and alliances shifting, analysts say every high-level meeting now carries weight as Nigeria’s political actors position themselves for the next election cycle.