FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike launched a fresh attack on the Ibadan alliance, describing it as fraudulent and politically empty.
Speaking during the inspection of ongoing road projects in the Gomani-Dappa-Yangoje axis of Kwali Area Council in the FCT, the former Rivers State governor said there was no legally recognised coalition between the PDP and APM.
“When I say some people are fraudulent, they think I’m joking. That is the 419 we are talking about,” Wike declared.
“There is no alliance between PDP and APM or any other political party. INEC also knows there is no PDP-APM alliance.”
Wike insisted that the PDP remained fully independent and would eventually submit its own presidential candidate to INEC ahead of the 2027 elections.
“PDP has presented a presidential candidate, and Nigerians should watch who will eventually be submitted to INEC. Then they will know there is nothing called PDP-APM,” he said.
The FCT minister further alleged that Makinde’s real objective was to use the APM platform to pursue a personal presidential ambition he described as “dead on arrival.”
“What you have is Seyi Makinde joining APM to actualise a presidential ambition that is already dead on arrival,” Wike stated.
But in Ibadan, Makinde defended the alliance and declared that opposition forces must unite to stop what he described as attempts by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to turn Nigeria into a one-party state.
“Nigeria can no longer pretend that democracy is functioning properly when opposition parties are constantly weakened and intimidated,” Makinde declared at the rally organised by his faction of the PDP and the APM.
“We must come together to rescue this country and restore genuine democratic competition.”
Earlier, leaders of Makinde’s PDP faction and the national leadership of the APM signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Ibadan to formalise the alliance, which is expected to serve as the platform for their candidates in the 2027 general elections.
•PDP rejects APM alliance, disowns Makinde
The Abdulrahman Mohammed-led leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday disowned the alliance between a faction of the party and the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), declaring that Governor Seyi Makinde and his associates lacked the authority to enter into any coalition on behalf of the opposition party.
The party also threatened legal and security action against individuals allegedly operating a parallel National Working Committee (NWC), accusing them of impersonation and attempting to destabilise the PDP ahead of the 2027 elections.
The development came as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, dismissed the alleged PDP-APM coalition as a “political 419 scam,” insisting that neither the party nor the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) recognised such an arrangement.
Addressing journalists in Abuja, PDP National Publicity Secretary, Jungudo Mohammed, said the party had no link whatsoever with the Ibadan gathering where Makinde’s faction announced an alliance with the APM and unveiled plans for the 2027 elections.
“Let us state clearly and unequivocally that the PDP is not part of any alliance, coalition, agreement or political arrangement with the APM or any other political party regarding this gathering or any related political activity,” Mohammed said.
“Any person or group claiming to be acting on behalf of the PDP in connection with this event is doing so without the knowledge, approval, consent or authority of the party.”
He accused Makinde and his associates of attempting to mislead Nigerians by creating what he described as “a false impression of political relevance and support.”
“What is being presented to Nigerians as a political alliance is nothing more than another desperate attempt by Governor Seyi Makinde and his associates to mislead the public,” he added.
Mohammed urged Nigerians to disregard what he termed “propaganda, theatrics and misleading narratives” surrounding the Ibadan event, stressing that the PDP remained united and fully prepared for the 2027 elections.
According to him, the party was already conducting screening exercises for governorship, National Assembly and presidential aspirants at its Legacy House headquarters in Abuja.
The PDP spokesman also accused Makinde and Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed of sponsoring propaganda aimed at distorting the Supreme Court judgment in the party’s leadership tussle.
The party’s National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu, disclosed that the leadership had already petitioned security agencies over alleged impersonation and the formation of a parallel NWC.
“We have written to the Police and the DSS over the issue of impersonation. Those involved in inaugurating the so-called interim National Working Committee have already been invited,” Anyanwu said.
“The matter is before security agencies, and we expect prosecution after investigations.”
He maintained that the Mohammed-led NWC remained the only legally recognised leadership of the PDP.
“There is only one PDP today. INEC has been here and verified the current NWC,” he stated.
