Makinde Turning to Opposition Spokesperson After Tinubu’s Snub – Fayose

Former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose has accused Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde of positioning himself as an “emergency opposition mouthpiece” following a reportedly frosty reception from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during a recent visit to the Presidential Villa.

In a statement released on Sunday, January 25, 2026, Fayose claimed that Makinde’s recent critical remarks against President Tinubu—made during the birthday celebration of former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo—stem directly from disappointment over the outcome of his meeting with the President last week.

Fayose alleged that Makinde visited the Villa in an attempt at political damage control and reconciliation but received a “cold shoulder” instead. He described the encounter as “the shock of his political life,” asserting that President Tinubu made it clear he would back the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates in Oyo State for the 2027 elections, effectively closing the door on any special consideration for Makinde or his political interests.

“That Seyi Makinde’s derogatory comment against President Tinubu at Osinbajo’s birthday further confirmed that he got a cold shoulder from the President during his last visit to the Villa,” Fayose stated. He added that if Makinde had received the “soft-landing” he anticipated, he would not have gone on to condemn the Tinubu administration by reportedly labeling the President a “dictator” while praising the previous Buhari regime.

The former Ekiti governor, who served two terms (2003-2006 and 2014-2018), argued that Makinde’s shift to openly criticizing the federal government is a reaction to the failed reconciliation effort. He urged the APC in Oyo State to “wake up and slug it out” with any candidate Makinde might field in 2027, noting that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may not be available as a platform for him, potentially forcing a move to another party like the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Governor Makinde’s comments at the Osinbajo event included expressions of missing the former VP’s influence and suggesting that speaking truth to power has become difficult under the current administration. Reports indicate the Oyo governor met President Tinubu at the State House in Abuja around January 22, 2026, in what was described as a courtesy visit focused on governance issues. However, no official details from the Presidency or Makinde’s camp have confirmed any rift or specific rebuff during the meeting.

Fayose’s statement has sparked reactions across political circles in the Southwest, with some viewing it as an escalation in the ongoing tensions within the PDP and between PDP governors and the APC-led federal government. Makinde, a key figure in the G5 group of PDP governors during the last election cycle, has maintained his loyalty to the PDP while occasionally critiquing federal policies.

As preparations for the 2027 general elections gather momentum, political analysts suggest that such public spats could further strain relationships between state governors and the center, particularly in states like Oyo where APC remains determined to wrest control.