The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) faction aligned with former Rivers State governor Nyesom Wike has publicly refuted any connection to a political gathering held in Ibadan on Thursday, accusing Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde of exploiting a supposed alliance with the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) for personal political advantage.
Jungudo Haruna Mohammed, the National Publicity Secretary of the Wike‑led PDP faction, told reporters that the party had no involvement in the Ibadan event, which was being promoted as a PDP/APM joint meeting. “We have called this briefing to address the misleading narratives and deliberate falsehoods being circulated concerning the social gathering scheduled to be held today in Ibadan under the guise of an alliance between the Peoples Democratic Party and the Allied Peoples Movement,” Mohammed said.
He stressed that the PDP “is not part of any alliance, coalition, agreement, or political arrangement with the Allied Peoples Movement or any other political party regarding this gathering or any related political activity.” According to Mohammed, any individual or group claiming to act on the party’s behalf in connection with the event does so “without the knowledge, approval, consent, or authority of the party.”
The faction’s statements came after the Ibadan gathering, purportedly organized by Makinde’s supporters, highlighted what Mohammed described as the governor’s real political direction. The Wike‑aligned PDP faction alleged that Makinde was using the façade of a PDP/APM partnership to further his own ambitions ahead of upcoming electoral cycles.
While the event proceeded, the PDP faction maintained that it would not recognize any outcomes or statements emerging from it. The party’s denunciation underscores ongoing tensions within Nigeria’s opposition landscape, where multiple PDP splinter groups vie for legitimacy and seek to distance themselves from perceived opportunistic alliances.
The dispute adds another layer to the contest for influence in Oyo State, a region where both the PDP and the APM have been seeking to expand their foothold. Observers note that the clash may have implications for future coalition-building efforts ahead of the next general elections, as parties assess the benefits and risks of partnerships that could be perceived as merely tactical.
For now, the Wike‑backed PDP faction has reiterated its stance that it will not engage with the APM in any formal capacity, and it has warned supporters to disregard any claims of a joint agenda. The party indicated it will monitor the situation closely and take further action if additional misinformation appears.
