Amid leadership crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has disclosed that the defeat of former President Goodluck Jonathan to late President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2015 presidential poll was the architect of the opposition party’s leadership crisis in the country.
Makinde stated that the party, at the time, was not prepared for the defeat that occurred at the polls, saying this development led to a leadership vacuum that led to the emergence of a faction that hijacked the PDP.
The governor noted that the factionalization of the party into two blocs, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and the Taminu Turaki factions, emerged after the 2015 poll.
Sources inside the Oyo State Government house, meanwhile, disclosed that the governor was referring to the Wike faction, accusing them of polarizing the party for APC’s benefit ahead of the 2027 election.
Makinde’s statement appeared to be a response to comments earlier ascribed Wike during his faction’s announcement of its national convention.
Wike, while speaking at the party’s 105th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja, had vowed to protect the PDP from what he described as internal “vampires” and also declared interest in the activities of the party’s Oyo State chapter.
Makinde stressed that the leadership vacuum allowed the other faction to hijack the party, piloting it towards achieving their agenda.
The governor, who disclosed this on Tuesday while commissioning the PDP State Secretariat office in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital, noted that the vagabonds have been expelled from the party, declaring an end to internal disruption in its affairs.
Makinde, who pitched his tent with the Turaki-led faction, said the party had now rid itself of elements responsible for persistent crises.
“In Yoruba land, we always say that if you see a house or a compound that is peaceful, the vagabond in that house has not grown up,” the governor said.
According to him, the group gained prominence within the party after the PDP lost federal power in 2015.
“In 2015, PDP lost power at the federal level. There was a gap in the leadership. Otherwise, those vagabonds would never have been able to take hold of PDP,” Makinde said.
He said the group controlled the party for almost a decade before being forced out.
“They grew up in 2015, they had their time, and for 10 years, a decade, they practised their vagabondry in the PDP. But they have been expelled in November 2025. So, there is no more vagabond in PDP,” he said.
Makinde also distanced the Oyo State government from the party’s internal legal battles and national leadership disputes.
“Finally, the government has no interest in PDP lawyer states and no interest in PDP nationally,” he said.
Reflecting on his own political alignment in the past, the governor admitted that he had previously worked with the group.
“Let me confess. I came into government in 2019, and towards 2023, I was yoked with them. But now, I’ve repented,” Makinde said.
He added that he would oppose any move by the group to retain control of the party.
“For them to hold PDP for another two years, no, no, no,” he said.
Makinde further suggested that the influence of the group was fading.
“They are wearing rags, dancing around at midnight, and they will soon scatter,” he added.
