A political scientist, Akinwunmi Akinfenwa, has said that Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, is in full and firm control of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) structure in the state.
Akinfenwa made the assertion on Wednesday while speaking during an interview on Arise Television’s Morning Show, where he analysed the balance of political power within the PDP and key national actors.
According to him, although the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, remains a strong political force at the national level, the political terrain in Ibadan and Oyo State is firmly under Governor Makinde’s control.
“While we can acknowledge that the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, is strong politically, when it comes to Ibadan politics, we must give it to Governor Seyi Makinde,” Akinfenwa said.
He also commented on President Bola Tinubu’s stance on the Rivers State political crisis, describing it as a pragmatic political calculation ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“President Tinubu is just trying to be pragmatic with his recent comment on the Rivers crisis because Wike delivered in 2023 and he has firm control of the grassroots in Rivers State,” he stated.
Akinfenwa added that the president’s approach is driven by electoral strategy, noting that Wike’s influence at the grassroots level makes him a key political ally going into the next presidential election cycle.
“The President is aware of this, and so he has to bring him closer, because he’s thinking 2027 when there will be a presidential election. So he knows that he needs him. It’s a terrible thing in politics, but there’s nothing anybody can do about that,” he concluded.
