PDP Crisis Escalates: Gov Makinde Calls Wike ‘Vagabond’, Aide Fires Back with ‘Political Harlot’ Jibe

In what appears to be a fresh escalation in the lingering crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde, has launched a scathing attack on former Rivers State Governor and current FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, describing him and his allies as “vagabonds” who hijacked the party in 2015 but have now been expelled.

The governor made these remarks during the opening ceremony of the new Oyo State PDP Secretariat in Ibadan on Tuesday, drawing on a popular Yoruba proverb: “In Yoruba land, they say when you see a house or a compound that is peaceful, know that the vagabond has not grown up.” Makinde accused the so-called vagabonds of practicing their “vagaboncy” (sic) in the PDP for a decade before their expulsion in November 2025.

“PDP lost power in 2015. Let me confess. I came into government in 2019 and towards 2023 I was yoked with them, but now I have repented. I am now born again. For them to hold PDP for another party to be in power, it’s a no no no,” Makinde stated, in an apparent reference to Wike’s alleged support for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) during the 2023 elections.

Switching to Yoruba for emphasis, the governor questioned Wike’s sudden interest in Oyo PDP and the national party structure. “Finally, he said he is interested in PDP in Oyo State and PDP nationally, ask him what he has done in PDP Rivers State. Forget all the Court cases here and there, I believe in the Judiciary as the hope of the common man, all the cases will add up, keep calm. They are dancing around in the midnight, day will soon break,” Makinde added, alluding to ongoing legal battles within the party.

As earlier reported by NaijaChoice News, the PDP has been embroiled in internal wrangling since the 2023 general elections, with factions led by Wike and his G5 allies clashing against party loyalists. The expulsion of Wike’s camp in November 2025, following a series of court rulings, marked a turning point, allowing figures like Makinde to consolidate control in the South-West zone. Sources close to the party indicate that the new Oyo PDP Secretariat inauguration was a symbolic move to reaffirm loyalty to the national leadership under the Umar Damagum-led caretaker committee.

However, Wike’s camp did not take the jabs lying down. In a swift response via social media, Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication to Wike, unleashed a blistering counterattack, labeling Makinde a “political vagabond and harlot” in Ibadan.

“There is this political vagabond and harlot in Ibadan. He is only loyal to his personal political interests and he is always ready to sacrifice anything, including friendship,” Olayinka fired. He chronicled Makinde’s alleged history of party-hopping: “In 2007 when he sought PDP ticket to contest for Senate and he couldn’t get it, he went to ANPP. In 2015 when he sought PDP ticket to contest for Governor and he could get it, he went to SDP. Now that this vagabond has been expelled from the PDP, and his Ibadan Amala Kanifa nullified by the court, where will he go ne?“

Olayinka’s remarks echo previous accusations against Makinde, including claims that he worked against fellow PDP governors like Ademola Adeleke of Osun State and may dump the party after 2027. This comes amid reports of Makinde’s strained relationship with Wike, once allies in the G5 group that opposed Atiku Abubakar’s presidential bid in 2023.

Political analysts in Ibadan told NaijaChoice News that this public spat could further fragment the PDP ahead of the 2027 elections, especially in the South-West and South-South regions. “Makinde is positioning himself as the new face of PDP in the South, but Wike’s influence in Abuja remains strong. This na real gbas gbos,” one analyst quipped, using local slang for the intense exchange.

The PDP national secretariat has yet to comment on the development, but party chieftains in Oyo State have rallied behind Makinde, praising his “repentance” and commitment to rebuilding the party. As the dust settles, all eyes are on the judiciary, which Makinde described as the “hope of the common man,” to resolve the pending cases that could reshape the party’s future.