2027 Elections: “I’m Not Ready to Go into the Gutters with Anyone,” Makinde Taunts Wike

2027 Elections: “I’m Not Ready to Go into the Gutters with Anyone,” Makinde Taunts Wike

  • FCT minister Nyesom Wike and Oyo state governor Seyi Makinde's rift has taken a new dimension
  • This is as on Thursday, August 21, Makinde tackled Wike and distanced himself from "gutter politics," stressing that his focus remains on service to the people and strengthening his party.
  • Makinde also spoke about the challenges of the PDP following Atiku Abubakar's exit from the party ahead of the 2027 elections

Legit.ng journalist Esther Odili has over two years of experience covering political parties and movements.

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo state, on Thursday, August 21, said he is not ready to “go low with anyone who decides to go into the gutters.”

2027 elections: Makinde taunts Wike
Ahead of the 2027 elections, Oyo Governor Seyi Makinde tackled FCT minister Nyesom Wike, saying he is not ready for gutter politics. Photo credit: Nyesom Ezenwo Wike - CON, GSSRS
Source: Facebook

Makinde made this statement while addressing journalists shortly after the South-West zoning consultative summit of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), held in Lagos.

As reported by The Punch, Makinde said:

“Personally, when people go low or go into the gutters, I don’t go with them. Some people are now going into the gutters. We will reach out to them. That is democracy.

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2027 elections: Wike gives condition for who he will support

“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.”

Speaking further, Makinde added that despite challenges, recent elections had shown that the PDP remained a formidable force.

Makinde speaks on PDP challenges
Governor Makinde speaks on reviving PDP as Nigeria's main opposition party ahead of the 2027 elections. Photo credit: Seyi Makinde
Source: Facebook
“In all our states, they showed last Saturday that PDP is not dead. In most other places of the 12 states, PDP came second. It is an indication to us that if we continue to work hard, we can reclaim the confidence of Nigerians,” he said.

When asked about discussions on zoning of the PDP presidential ticket to the South, Makinde said the party was not yet at that stage.

“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.

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“Our efforts right now are directed towards having a vibrant and united PDP that Nigerians will be proud of and believe in again,” he said.

2027: PDP, Wike's camp disagree over Jonathan, Obi, Makinde

Legit.ng earlier reported that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is embroiled in fresh internal divisions as its leaders remain divided over whether to field former president Goodluck Jonathan, former Anambra state governor Peter Obi, or Oyo state governor Seyi Makinde as its presidential candidate for the 2027 elections.

According to Daily Trust, multiple party sources disclosed that some leaders, allegedly aligned with Nyesom Wike, the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), are pushing for Obi, while another bloc is rooting for Jonathan, arguing that he is the only figure within the party capable of giving President Bola Ahmed Tinubu a serious challenge in 2027. A third group has also thrown Makinde’s name into the mix.

Read also

PDP's Wike speaks on candidate he will support in 2027 election

2027: Wike urges PDP zone ticket to the south

Meanwhile, Makinde spoke weeks after FCT minister Nyesom Wike and some concerned leaders in the People Democratic Party (PDP) agreed that the party must zone its presidential ticket to the South in 2027.

They made the call to the leadership of the PDP after a meeting with Wike in Abuja on Monday, June 9, 2025.

Read more about PDP here:

2027 presidency: Makinde’s posters flood Kano

Meanwhile, Legit.ng reported that the race for the 2027 presidential election took another new dimension on Thursday, May 22, 2025.

Governor Seyi Makinde's campaign posters flood the city of Kano ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

The Nigeria Youths Awareness Group Makinde 2027 (NYAG Makinde 2027) explained the reason for promoting the Oyo state governor.

Source: Legit.ng

Authors:
Esther Odili avatar

Esther Odili (Politics and Current Affairs Editor) Esther Odili is a journalist and a Politics/Current Affairs Editor at Legit.ng with 6+ years of experience. She Holds OND and HND in Mass Communication from the Nigerian Institue of Journalism (NIJ), where she was recognized as the best student in print journalism in 2018. Before joining Legit.ng, Esther has worked with other reputable media houses, such as the New Telegraph newspaper and Galaxy Television. In 2024, Esther obtained a certificate in advanced digital reporting from the Google News Initiative. Email: esther.odili@corp.legit.ng.

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