FCT minister says opposition coalition narrative exists only in “political imagination” ahead of 2027 elections
Nyesom Wike has dismissed reports of an alliance between the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), describing the claims as fraudulent and accusing Seyi Makinde of promoting what he termed “Political 419” ahead of the 2027 elections.
Speaking to journalists on Thursday during an inspection of ongoing road projects in Gomani-Yangoji, Kwali Area Council of Abuja, Wike said neither the PDP nor the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had any record of such an arrangement.
“When I say people are fraudulent, they think I am joking. And that is the 419 we are talking about,” Wike said.
“There is no alliance between PDP and Allied Peoples Movement or any other political party, as the case may be. INEC also knows that there is nothing called a PDP-APM alliance.”
The former Rivers State governor argued that ongoing activities within the PDP, including the screening of presidential aspirants, showed that the party remained politically independent and had not entered into any coalition.
He challenged critics to observe the candidate eventually submitted by the PDP to INEC for the 2027 presidential election.
Wike directed much of his criticism at Makinde, accusing the Oyo governor of using the APM platform to pursue what he described as a failed presidential ambition.
“What you have is Seyi Makinde joining APM to be able to actualise his presidential ambition, which is already dead on arrival,” he said.
The minister also stated that Bala Mohammed had never publicly backed the alleged alliance, insisting that the narrative existed only in “political imagination”.
“It’s unfortunate. We know that has been his game plan, and we would say he cannot fly the flag of PDP,” Wike added.
Asked about comments concerning the continued membership of the Rivers State governor in the All Progressives Congress (APC), Wike dismissed suggestions of any political crisis within the ruling party.
“Sorry for what? Why are you saying ‘problem’ when nobody has told you he has a problem? The man has told you he still remains APC. So what is the problem now?” he asked.
He maintained that any issues relating to the governor’s position within the APC remained an internal party matter.
“Ask me about PDP; I will answer you. Because how will you ask me what happens? Assuming he has a problem, it’s their internal affairs,” Wike said.
Earlier during the inspection tour, the FCT minister expressed satisfaction with progress on the 13-kilometre Gomani-Yangoji road project, saying it was expected to be inaugurated during activities marking the third anniversary of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration in June.
According to Wike, the project reflects the administration’s broader policy of extending infrastructure development beyond Abuja’s city centre into satellite communities under the government’s “Renewed Hope Agenda”.
“Remember that when we came on board, one of the directives of Mr President was that we should not concentrate development; we should not concentrate provision of infrastructure just only in the cities,” he said.
“We must open up all the satellite towns in order to discourage rural-urban migration.”
