Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike has hit back at reports of an alliance between the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), branding the claims as fraudulent and a “political 419” aimed at advancing Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde’s presidential ambition ahead of the 2027 elections. Wike said there is no such alliance between the PDP and the APM—or with any other party—and insisted that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) also recognises no PDP–APM coalition.
Wike’s hardline rejection
Speaking to journalists during an inspection of road projects in Gwagwalada‑Kwali, Wike dismissed the narrative as a deliberate deception, saying, “When I say people are fraudulent, they thought I was joking. And that is the 419 we are talking about.” He accused Makinde of using the APM platform to pursue a personal presidential bid he described as “already dead on arrival,” and noted that the PDP‑in‑Wike’s camp is still conducting its own internal screening of presidential, governorship, and National Assembly aspirants, showing that the party remains independent.
Makinde camp pushes back
Meanwhile, Makinde’s camp has pushed back, asserting that the PDP–APM alignment is real and will be validated by the outcome of the 2027 elections. Makinde had earlier announced his presidential ambition on the APM platform, describing the PDP–APM handshake as a strategic alliance allowing candidates to field contenders at all levels, from the presidency to state assemblies. His supporters argue that the alliance is part of a broader effort to reset Nigeria’s political landscape ahead of the next polls.
Parallel PDP power struggle
The dispute runs alongside a deeper rift within the PDP, with the Wike‑backed faction accusing the Seyi Makinde‑aligned group of forging an informal coalition without the knowledge or consent of the national leadership. The PDP’s national secretary, Samuel Anyanwu, said security agencies have invited former Senate President Adolphus Wabara, Kabiru Turaki, and others over alleged impersonation linked to the formation of a rival Interim National Working Committee (INWC), which is at the heart of the internal crisis. The Turaki‑led INWC, however, has rejected police role in interpreting Supreme Court judgments, insisting that the interim leadership’s legality cannot be decided by the police.
