The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has dismissed claims of an alliance between the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) ahead of the 2027 general elections, describing the narrative as deceptive and politically motivated.
Speaking with journalists on Thursday during an inspection of ongoing road projects in Gomani-Yangoji in Kwali Area Council of Abuja, Wike accused Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde of promoting what he termed “political 419” in pursuit of a presidential ambition.
According to the minister, neither the PDP nor the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had any record of an alliance involving the PDP and the APM.
“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.”
Wike argued that the PDP’s ongoing internal political activities, including the screening of presidential aspirants, clearly showed that the party remained independent and had not entered into any coalition arrangement.
He challenged critics to wait for the party’s eventual submission of its presidential candidate to INEC as proof that no alliance existed.
The former Rivers State governor further alleged that Makinde was only using the APM platform to pursue a personal presidential project which, according to him, lacked viability.
“What you have is Seyi Makinde joining APM to be able to actualise his presidential ambition, which is already dead on arrival,” he stated.
Governor Makinde had declared his intention to contest for president during a rally held in Ibadan earlier in the day.
Wike also claimed that Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State had never publicly supported the alleged coalition narrative, insisting that the entire claim existed only in the imagination of political actors pushing the agenda.
“It’s unfortunate. We know that has been his game plan, and we would say he cannot fly the flag of PDP,” Wike added.
Responding to questions concerning comments by the Rivers State governor over his continued membership of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Wike dismissed suggestions of an internal 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.
The minister maintained that any issue concerning the governor’s standing within the APC remained strictly an internal matter for the party.
“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,” he said.
Earlier during the project inspection, Wike expressed satisfaction with the pace of work on the 13-kilometre Gomani-Yangoji road project, stating that it was on track for inauguration during activities marking the third anniversary of the administration of President Bola Tinubu in June.
He explained that the project was part of the administration’s strategy to extend infrastructure development beyond the Abuja city centre into satellite communities under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
According to him, the president had directed that development should not be concentrated only in urban areas but also spread across rural and suburban communities to reduce rural-urban migration.
