The Peoples Democratic Party has accused President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress of fueling political tension ahead of the 2027 elections, dismissing criticisms of Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde as misplaced. The party said reactions to Makinde’s remarks at the opposition summit in Ibadan have been deliberately misinterpreted to portray a false narrative.
In a press statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Ini Ememobong, the PDP maintained that Makinde’s reference to the historical “wetie” crisis was intended as a warning, not an incitement to violence. The party argued that the recollection served as a reminder of the consequences of political excesses and the suppression of opposition voices.
“The use of history in the way and manner done by Governor Makinde served as a caution to the Federal Government, the APC, and other national institutions of the dangers inherent in their actions and inactions. Only a guilty aggressor can interpret it as a call to violence,” the statement said.
The PDP further alleged that current political developments mirror past patterns that led to unrest, warning that unchecked political dominance and public frustration could result in serious national consequences. It criticized what it described as a growing trend toward “elected totalitarianism,” insisting that the ruling party cannot deny responsibility for escalating tensions.
“When insatiable political greed replaces patriotism and governance, and is combined with the frustrations of the people, the outcome can be catastrophic. History has repeatedly shown this,” the party stated.
The opposition party also accused the APC of hypocrisy, recalling past statements made while it was in opposition, including threats that suggested destabilizing the country. It argued that such a record weakens the ruling party’s position to criticize Makinde’s remarks, which it described as a legitimate historical reference.
Concluding, the PDP warned that any violence surrounding the 2027 elections should be attributed to the actions of the Federal Government, the APC, and key national institutions, including the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The party insisted that opposition groups would continue to pursue lawful strategies to resist what it described as attempts to impose a one-party state.
