The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), led by Tanimu Turaki, has thrown its weight behind Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, rejecting allegations by the All Progressives Congress (APC) that his remarks at the Ibadan Opposition Summit incited violence.
In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, the PDP instead pointed fingers at the Federal Government and the APC, warning of what it called a growing threat to peace and democracy.
The party said the uproar followed Makinde’s comments at the opposition parties’ national summit in Ibadan on April 25, 2026, where he referenced the historical “wetie” crisis. It insisted the remark was meant as a warning, not a call to violence.
“The use of history in the way and manner done by Governor Makinde… served as a caution and advisory to the Federal Government, the APC, and other national institutions, of the unmitigated crisis that their actions and inactions can result in.”
The PDP accused the APC of twisting the statement for political gain.
“Only a guilty aggressor can interpret it to mean a threat or call to violence. It is common knowledge that those who do not learn from history are doomed by it.”
Defending the governor, the party said his comments were aimed at highlighting the dangers of suppressing opposition voices.
“Governor Makinde offered a sobering reminder that when insatiable political greed and avarice replace patriotism and good governance… the resultant conflagration will be of immeasurable proportion.”
It further claimed that current political developments under President Bola Tinubu echo past crises in Nigeria.
“The events that led to the sad incident of ‘wetie’ and the current happenings within the political space, as orchestrated by the APC, are not just similar but identical in both intent and execution.”
In a direct attack, the PDP accused the ruling party of steering the country toward authoritarian rule.
“The current slide into elected totalitarianism has been entirely engineered by the APC and the Federal Government. They cannot decry the effect while remaining willfully blind to the cause.”
The statement also revisited past rhetoric by the APC during its time in opposition.
“When the APC was in opposition, they did not merely threaten violence, they openly promised to make the country ungovernable… They therefore lack any moral capacity to complain.”
Warning of consequences, the PDP said opposition parties would continue to resist any push toward a one-party state.
“As long as the targeted state-sponsored decimation of the opposition continues, the opposition parties will explore increasingly potent strategies, entirely within the ambit of the law.”
It concluded by placing responsibility for any potential electoral violence ahead of the 2027 general elections on the ruling authorities.
“The responsibility for any violence… lies squarely at the doors of the Federal Government, the APC, INEC, and every national institution charged with the defence of democracy.”
The statement highlights deepening tensions between the ruling party and opposition blocs as the 2027 election cycle approaches.
