Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, held an emergency meeting with key stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday.
The high-level session took place at the Local Government Training Centre within the State Secretariat in Agodi, Ibadan.
Initially, officials planned for the meeting to hold at the Agodi Government House at 7 p.m.
However, they moved the venue to accommodate the large number of party leaders and aspirants.
Over 500 leaders attended the event to hear the governor’s direction for the state chapter.
The Nation reported that the gathering aimed to address the deepening rift within the national party.
Governor Makinde specifically discussed the ongoing dispute with the faction backed by Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
Consensus Strategy For Upcoming General Election Candidates
The governor announced a major shift in how the party will select its candidates for the next elections.
He stated that 51 candidates for various offices, including the governorship and legislative seats, will emerge through consensus rather than traditional primaries.
“The 51 people we talked about must emerge through consensus. That is the only way we can be united to face the battle ahead,” Makinde stated.
He noted that unity is the only tool the Oyo PDP has to survive the current national leadership turmoil.
Furthermore, the governor offered automatic tickets to all serving federal lawmakers from the state.
He alleged that these lawmakers deserve the gesture for remaining loyal to the party despite intense external pressures.
Contingency Plans Amid National Party Leadership Tussle
While Makinde reaffirmed his loyalty to the PDP, he hinted at a possible “Plan B” if the national crisis persists.
He suggested that if the party’s internal problems remain unsolved, aspirants might need to contest on a different platform.
“We will remain in the PDP and if things don’t work, our 51 candidates will be pushed on another platform and we will back them up as PDP,” the governor added.
He noted that his primary goal is to ensure his supporters are on the ballot in 2027.
The meeting ended with a call for local government chairmen to begin a fresh membership validation exercise.
Makinde reminded leaders that supporters can only participate in the coming polls if they possess valid voter cards.
Oyo State is a critical stronghold for the PDP and the opposition in the South West, and perhaps the only state governor still left in the party after it lost at least eight governors.
Any shift in political strategy by Governor Makinde could alter the balance of power during the next general elections.
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