Makinde Dismisses Defection Rumours, Says He Is Not Joining APC

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has dismissed speculations that he may defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, amid recent defections by some opposition governors.

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

“I am not APC, and I am not about to become APC,” the governor declared.

He stressed that Nigeria’s progress depends on genuine collaboration among leaders across political divides to move the country forward.

According to Makinde, the growing divisions in the country are largely driven by the ambitions of the political elite rather than the wishes of ordinary Nigerians.

He noted that while most citizens desire unity and peaceful coexistence, politicians often exploit religious, ethnic, and regional sentiments in pursuit of personal interests.

The governor warned against the “winner-takes-all” approach to politics, describing it as exclusionary and detrimental to national cohesion.

Makinde emphasised the need for a consensus among the political elite that places priority on good governance and tackling the nation’s current challenges, rather than recycling old political rivalries.

Drawing from personal experience, he said political success is often a matter of divine timing, recalling that both he and former President Muhammadu Buhari suffered electoral defeats before eventually winning office.

Reflecting on Nigeria’s past, Makinde observed that while early leaders were focused on uniting the country after the civil war, contemporary challenges require fresh ideas and new solutions.

He called for deliberate efforts to build political and governance systems anchored on fairness, inclusion, and long-term stability.