Former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose has launched a scathing attack on Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, accusing him of abusing executive power and weakening the Peoples Democratic Party’s organisational base across the South-West.
According to Fayose, Makinde’s style of governance and political management alienated loyal party members who worked for his emergence, thereby creating deep cracks within the PDP family in the region.
He argued that these actions steadily eroded trust and dismantled long-standing party networks.
Speaking during a television interview, Fayose claimed that the Oyo governor concentrated power and influence around himself, particularly through control of strategic state assets.
He said such actions sidelined party stakeholders who expected inclusion after contributing to Makinde’s political rise.
Moreover, Fayose alleged that many grassroots mobilisers and party loyalists were gradually pushed out of relevance.
“Those who stood by him at the beginning no longer have a place,” he said, adding that the development weakened internal cohesion within the party.
Extending his criticism beyond Oyo State, Fayose accused Makinde of engineering the collapse of PDP structures across the South-West.
He argued that party processes in the region lost credibility, citing what he described as irregularities in the Osun State governorship selection.
Furthermore, the former governor questioned how a candidate allegedly emerged without following established party procedures.
He said such outcomes damaged confidence in internal democracy and discouraged committed members from active participation.
On a personal note, Fayose recalled an incident in Osun State where he claimed he was targeted during a political gathering.
He alleged that the attack was politically motivated and linked to Makinde, describing the episode as evidence of intolerance within the party’s leadership ranks.
In contrast, Fayose portrayed himself as an independent political figure who rose without external backing.
He said his time as Ekiti governor was defined by autonomy and resistance to godfatherism. “I built my political career without being controlled by anyone,” he said.
Meanwhile, Fayose openly reaffirmed his alliance with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
Fayose said his loyalty remained firmly with the former Rivers State governor, stressing that his political alignment was based on principle rather than convenience.
However, despite internal disagreements within the PDP, Fayose insisted he had no intention of leaving the party.
He dismissed speculation about defecting to the All Progressives Congress, maintaining that his commitment to the PDP remained intact.
Hence, Fayose’s comments have once again brought internal PDP tensions in the South-West into the public spotlight, raising fresh questions about leadership, unity, and the party’s future in the region.