Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), says Seyi Makinde, governor of Oyo, told a “blatant lie” about him.

The relationship between the two chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been frosty since the 2023 presidential election.

In the buildup to the poll, Makinde and Wike were part of the G5 governors of the PDP who refused to back Atiku Abubakar’s presidential bid.

The feud peaked when Makinde claimed that Wike told him during a meeting that he would “hold PDP” for the president ahead of the 2027 election.

The Oyo governor, who narrated the political disagreement between himself and Wike, spoke to journalists last Tuesday during a media chat at the government house in Ibadan.

“I was in a meeting with the president and Wike and a few others, and Wike said to the president that I will hold PDP for you against 2027; I was in shock,” Makinde had said.

Commenting on Monday during his end-of-year media chat in Rivers state, Wike said Makinde’s allegations were unfair.

“That’s a blatant lie,” Wike said.

“That is why… you see, Seyi Makinde has never called me Wike again. That is the first time he called me Wike.”

Wike questioned the basis of Makinde’s claim and asked why the Oyo governor failed to brief the PDP leadership on the alleged discussion.

“First of all, let us ask: what was the purpose of that meeting? Why did Makinde not come out to tell the party that this is what Wike said?” he asked.

The FCT minister also said the misunderstanding began when Makinde failed to secure a ministerial position for his nominee.

“What we are dealing with today is that he was not given any ministerial slot,” Wike said.

“Even when he was saying it, we could see the anger. He didn’t need to tell anybody; we could see it. We told him, ‘Calm down.’”