Makinde Shades Wike: “I’m Not Ready to Go Into the Gutters with Anyone” Amid PDP Zoning Rift

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has issued a pointed but subtle jab at the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, asserting his refusal to “go low with anyone who decides to go into the gutters.” The remark came at the end of a Southern Zoning Consultative Summit of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) held on Thursday in Lagos, which was convened to foster unity and strategize for the party’s national congress

Speaking to journalists shortly after the meeting, which drew influential figures including PDP Board of Trustees chairman Senator Adolphus Wabara and Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri, Makinde emphasized a more dignified approach to internal party disputes. “Personally, when people go low, or they go into the gutters, I don’t go with them. Some people are not going into the gutters. We will reach out to them. That is democracy,” he declared.

The summit attracted significant southern PDP representatives but was also met with dissent. Several southern leaders from the South-South and South-East zones condemned the meeting, labeling it exclusionary and illegal due to the absence of some key stakeholders. They vowed to resist the outcomes, suggesting a possible parallel faction within the party.

Makinde’s statement came amidst a backdrop of rising tension within the PDP over the party’s zoning formula and the upcoming national convention scheduled for November 15 and 16 in Ibadan, Oyo State. The zoning committee, chaired by Governor Douye Diri, aims to allocate leadership positions and possibly decide the zoning of the 2027 presidential ticket among the southern geopolitical zones—South-East, South-South, and South-West. However, Wike and some allied southern leaders have openly opposed the current approach, deepening the rift within the party.

ADVERTISEMENT

Addressing the threat of division, Makinde called for unity and underscored that personal attacks detract from the party’s mission to serve Nigerians. “I can disagree with people, but there shouldn’t be anything personal here. It should be about what we are giving to Nigerians because they are watching,” he said.

He also highlighted the PDP’s resilience despite setbacks in recent elections, noting that the party, which came second in 12 states during recent polls, remains a formidable force if internal cohesion is restored.

Makinde further stressed that discussions on the 2027 presidential ticket were premature. “We haven’t even gotten there. We need to have a party first before you start talking about presidential candidates. If we don’t have a party, anything you are trying to do will fall flat,” he concluded.

The Southern Zoning Summit’s outcomes will be forwarded to the PDP’s National Executive Committee meeting scheduled for Monday, where crucial decisions on the party’s future leadership and strategy will be made.

This ongoing dispute between Makinde and Wike marks a significant chapter in the PDP’s preparations for the 2027 elections, as the party struggles to maintain internal unity amid competing regional and personal ambitions within its ranks.