The minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has dismissed the reported alliance between the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), led by Kabiru Turaki, and the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), describing it as a “fraud”.
On Wednesday, the Turaki-led PDP faction told TheCable that it had entered into an alliance with the APM ahead of the 2027 elections.
Following the development, Seyi Makinde, governor of Oyo state, announced his intention to run for president in 2027, saying the PDP-APM arrangement would allow the former ruling party to field candidates across all elective positions.
However, while speaking on Thursday during an inspection of road projects in Abuja, Wike said Makinde was misleading Nigerians with claims of any such political agreement.
“That’s the 419 we are talking about,” Wike said.
In Nigeria, “419” is widely used to describe fraud. The minister insisted there is no alliance between the PDP and APM or any other political platform.
He added that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is also aware that no such coalition exists.
“INEC also knows that there is no such thing as a PDP-APM alliance,” he said.
Wike further argued that the ongoing screening of aspirants by the Abdulrahman Mohammed-led PDP faction shows the party is operating independently and not in partnership with any other group.
“PDP has presented a presidential candidate. Watch out to see the name of the candidate who will be submitted to INEC and see whether there is anything called PDP-APM,” he said.
He maintained that what is unfolding is Makinde’s personal political move under the APM, which he described as an already failed ambition.
“What you have is Seyi Makinde joining APM to be able to actualise his presidential ambition, which is already dead on arrival,” Wike said.
He also referenced Bala Mohammed, governor of Bauchi state, saying he made no mention of any PDP-APM alliance when he joined the party.