Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has dismissed speculation about his possible defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC), insisting that he remains committed to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) despite recent defections by some opposition governors to the ruling party.

Makinde spoke on Wednesday in Abuja at the public presentation of a book, ‘Headlines and Soundbites: Media Moments that Defined an Administration’, authored by former Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed.

“I am not APC, and I am not about to become APC,” Makinde said. He said Nigeria’s progress depends on sincere collaboration among leaders across political divides to move the country forward.

The governor argued that Nigeria’s deepening divisions are largely driven by elite ambitions rather than the will of ordinary citizens.

According to him, most Nigerians desire unity and coexistence, but are often manipulated along religious, ethnic and regional lines by political elites pursuing personal interests.

He warned against the “winner-takes-all” mentality in politics, stressing that it fuels exclusion and undermines national cohesion.

Makinde said Nigeria needs an elite consensus focused on improving governance and addressing contemporary challenges rather than recycling old fault lines.

Drawing from personal experience, the governor noted that political success is ultimately determined by God and timing, recounting how key political actors, including himself and former President Muhammadu Buhari, lost elections at different times before eventually attaining office years later.

Makinde also reflected on Nigeria’s historical challenges, explaining that while the country’s early leaders were preoccupied with uniting a post-war nation, today’s problems are different and require new solutions.

He called for deliberate efforts to design political and governance arrangements that promote fairness, inclusion and stability. (Daily Trust)