By Ayomide Otitoju
Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde on Thursday paid a visit to President Bola Tinubu at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja, describing the engagement as a discussion focused strictly on governance matters rather than politics.
Makinde arrived at the Presidential Villa at about 3:30 p.m., as political activities and consultations intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections. However, he dismissed suggestions that the visit was linked to political realignments.
Speaking with journalists after the meeting, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governor stressed that President Tinubu remains the President of all Nigerians, not just of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
“The President is the President of Nigeria, not the President of the APC, and we’re talking about governance here,” Makinde said. “I came to discuss with the President some governance issues, basically.”
His visit comes against the backdrop of recent defections by some PDP leaders, including governors, to the APC, leaving Makinde among a shrinking number of PDP governors.
Asked whether he was considering joining the ruling party, Makinde firmly ruled out the possibility, saying he remains comfortable in the PDP.
“I’m comfortable in the PDP,” he said. “There are times when issues in this country require a bipartisan approach. It shouldn’t be about APC alone or PDP alone, but about putting the best foot forward in the interest of the nation.”
