In a move that has sent ripples through Nigeria’s political landscape, the Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, arrived at the Presidential Villa on Thursday, January 22, 2026, for a high-stakes, closed-door meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The visit, which occurred during a period of intense political jockeying ahead of the 2027 general elections, has sparked fresh speculation about the future of the opposition and the stability of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
A Strategic Arrival
Governor Makinde, a central figure in the PDP, arrived at the State House at approximately 3:30 p.m. His arrival followed closely on the heels of Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State, who recently dominated headlines by defecting from the PDP to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Unlike Mutfwang, whose presence was seen as a formalization of his new alliance, Makinde’s visit carries a more complex subtext. As a leader of the now-famed "G-5 Governors," Makinde played a pivotal role in the 2023 elections by opposing his own party’s candidate, Atiku Abubakar, a move that many analysts believe cleared the path for President Tinubu’s victory.
The Agenda: Governance or Gamesmanship?
While the official agenda of the meeting remains undisclosed, sources within the Villa suggest a dual-purpose dialogue:
State and National Security: Following recent security challenges at the Old Oyo National Park, Makinde has been vocal about strengthening sub-national security architecture.
2027 Realignments: The meeting comes just weeks after Makinde publicly distanced himself from FCT Minister Nyesom Wike’s alleged pledge to "hold the PDP" for Tinubu in 2027.
"The President did not ask for that commitment; it was unsolicited. I will not be part of a plan to turn Nigeria into a one-party state," Makinde had stated in a recent media chat.
Despite those firm words, the sight of the Oyo Governor walking into the President’s office today has many asking if a "middle ground" is being sought to ensure political survival in a rapidly shifting environment.
The Pressure on the Opposition
The meeting takes place against a backdrop of an opposition in crisis. With several PDP governors already having crossed the carpet to the APC in early 2026, Makinde stands as one of the few remaining "heavyweights" in the opposition.
However, his relationship with the President has always been described as "cordial but professional." Unlike other opposition figures who favor a confrontational approach, Makinde has frequently advocated for "politics without bitterness," a stance that makes his visits to the Villa particularly scrutinized.
Looking Toward 2027
Political analysts suggest that President Tinubu is currently in a "consolidation phase," attempting to bring influential Southern leaders into a unified fold before the 2027 campaign cycle begins in earnest. For Makinde, the challenge is a delicate balancing act: maintaining his identity as a PDP leader while ensuring his state remains in the "good books" of the Federal Government for developmental projects.
As the meeting concluded late Thursday evening, Governor Makinde emerged without addressing the waiting press corps, leaving the true nature of the "Villa parley" to the imagination of the public. Whether this meeting signals a deepening of his alliance with Tinubu or a firm negotiation for the independence of the opposition remains to be seen.
One thing is certain: in the chess game of Nigerian politics, Seyi Makinde’s next move will be one of the most consequential of the year.
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