IBADAN — In a bold and symbolic message to aggrieved party members, Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has urged leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who are exploring or have joined new opposition coalitions to return and work towards rebuilding the party rather than abandoning it.
Governor Makinde, speaking on Wednesday during a closed-door strategy meeting with select PDP stakeholders in Ibadan, likened the party to a house with a leaking roof. According to him, rather than deserting the house, members should take responsibility and fix it from within.
“We must learn from the past and stop repeating the same mistake. When the roof of a house is leaking, the solution is not to run away — it is to fix the leak. PDP is still the most national and inclusive platform in this country,” he said.
Makinde’s statement comes amidst the growing momentum of the ADC-led opposition coalition, which has recently attracted high-profile defections from both the PDP and the APC, particularly in the northern regions.
He warned that emotional decisions, driven by temporary setbacks or disagreements, could derail the long-term vision of the party and weaken its ability to mount a strong challenge in the 2027 general elections.
“Those jumping ship today may realise tomorrow that they left the only party with true national spread and structures. Let’s solve our internal issues like a family. This is not the time to scatter, it is the time to unite.”
His comments are believed to be a subtle reference to former vice president Atiku Abubakar, and other influential PDP figures recently seen aligning with new political fronts, including talks with the Labour Party’s Peter Obi and the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Makinde, one of the leading voices in the PDP Governors’ Forum, reiterated his commitment to party reform but maintained that the soul of the party must be preserved.
He added that opposition unity is desirable, but not at the cost of disintegrating the PDP which remains, according to him, “the only true alternative to the APC.”
As the race to 2027 continues to heat up, Makinde’s comments signal a strategic push to reclaim the narrative and re-energize PDP loyalists ahead of anticipated political realignments.
Source: Sahara Reporters / FrontNaija News Desk
