The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has denied claims that he pledged to President Bola Tinubu to weaken the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the 2027 presidential election, describing the allegation as false and politically motivated.
Wike made the denial on Monday during an end-of-year media briefing, reacting to comments by Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, who last week alleged that the former Rivers State governor had voluntarily offered to suppress the opposition party to support Tinubu’s re-election bid.
The FCT minister dismissed the accusation as a “blatant lie,” attributing it to frustration and political inexperience.
“Seyi Makinde has never called me Wike before. That is the first time I heard him doing so, and it is unfortunate,” Wike said.
“One must first ask what the purpose of that meeting was. At no point did I tell the president that I would hold the PDP down for him. There was no such discussion,” he added.
Clarifying the circumstances surrounding the alleged meeting, Wike explained that he, Makinde, and former governors Samuel Ortom of Benue State, Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State, and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State met President Tinubu after the 2023 general elections to discuss post-election issues.
He added that the Chief of Staff to the president was present at the meeting.
“I was the one who asked the Chief of Staff to sit with us so we could remind the president of what we had discussed,” Wike said.
“There was no special or secret meeting arranged for any political deal. It is completely out of place for anyone to suggest that I made such a promise to the president,” he further said.
The FCT minister described Makinde’s allegation as “very unfair” and reflective of frustration. He stressed that politics operates differently from private-sector engagements and warned against pursuing political ambition outside established rules and norms.
“Politics is not like being a contractor. It has its own rules. There is nothing wrong with having ambition, but it must be pursued properly and with discipline,” Wike said.
The former Rivers State governor also spoke on political loyalty and strategic alignment, warning that joining the All Progressives Congress (APC) or declaring support for President Tinubu does not automatically translate into political relevance or advantage. He said loyalty must be backed by structure, consistency, and respect for agreements.
“If you know you cannot keep an agreement, then do not enter into it. Political relevance is earned, not assumed. Loyalty without commitment carries no guarantee,” he said.
His remarks were widely interpreted as a reference to Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, who recently joined the APC. Wike also criticised what he described as political opportunism linked to state resources, referencing Fubara’s public disclosure of N600 billion in Rivers State coffers.
According to Wike, openly announcing such figures exposes the state to political exploitation, as rival interests may use it as leverage to undermine existing political structures and gain influence.
The controversy originated from Makinde’s recent media chat, where he recounted a private 2023 meeting involving himself, Wike, and President Tinubu.
Makinde claimed that Wike offered, without prompting, to undermine the PDP to assist Tinubu’s re-election. He also expressed regret over supporting Tinubu in the 2023 election, and said he would not back him in 2027, citing concerns about Nigeria’s democratic future.
