PDP crisis: Wike is not my leader — Oyinlola

Former Osun State Governor, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, has criticized the internal forces within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for causing a crisis. In an interview on Channels TV’s ‘Politics Today’ programme, Oyinlola, who served as a PDP member and governor of Osun from 2003 to 2010, denied that Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, was his leader.

Oyinlola stated, "No, not my leader. You don’t say that kind of thing," and clarified that while he remains a PDP member, Wike is not his leader. He emphasized that Wike qualified to be his "boy" due to Oyinlola's tenure as military governor of Lagos State from 1993 to 1996 when Wike was still in school. Oyinlola expressed his belief that if the party cannot move forward positively, then individuals should step aside.

He also mentioned that the "rainbow coalition" led by Wike, aimed at supporting President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid, has faced criticism from PDP members who argue it is detrimental to the party. Despite being a PDP member, Oyinlola highlighted that Wike was appointed to work under the Tinubu-led All Progressives Congress administration, leading to significant opposition from within the party.

Oyinlola acknowledged that former President Olusegun Obasanjo has been trying to revitalize the party's structure but has encountered opposition from internal forces. He noted that the PDP remains strong across all 774 local governments in Nigeria and can achieve success if the party unites.