Makinde Opens Up on 2023 Political Blunders as PDP Commissions Ultra-Modern Secretariat.

In a move that has sent ripples through Nigeria’s political landscape, Oyo State Governor Engr. Seyi Makinde has officially declared a “new dawn” for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), while openly regretting his past alliances with divisive forces during the 2023 general elections.

Speaking on Tuesday at the grand commissioning of the newly built PDP State Secretariat aptly named Mustafa House in Oke-Ado, Ibadan, Makinde didn’t pull any punches regarding the internal sabotage that has dogged the party for years.

Reflecting on the turbulent 2023 cycle, Makinde admitted that his alignment with certain factions—which many political observers link to the G5 or “Integrity Group” was a period he has now moved past.

“I found myself aligned with some of these forces. But I have reflected, repented, and resolved never to allow that again,” Makinde declared. “Anyone who thinks they can hijack the PDP to install another party in power should forget it.”

He went further to blame the party’s decade-long crisis on a “leadership vacuum” created after the 2015 federal loss, which allowed “unruly elements” to thrive. However, he noted that these elements were “firmly shown the way out” in November 2025.

Despite the lingering litigations and factional battles within the PDP, Makinde expressed unwavering optimism that the truth would prevail in court.

The new secretariat is more than just a building; it is a strategic asset. Named after Chief Omokunmi Mustapha, the man who led the PDP back to power in Oyo in 2019, the facility boasts:

• Modern executive offices and a spacious conference hall.
• 24/7 power via dedicated generating sets and solar energy systems.
• Cutting-edge amenities for digital party administration.

The event was a “Who’s Who” of PDP heavyweights, including South-West Chairman Hon. Kamorudeen Ajisafe, former First Lady Chief Mutiat Ladoja, and Senator Monsurat Sunmonu. The consensus was clear: the commissioning is a signal that the South-West PDP is organized, united, and ready for the future.

State Chairman Hon. Dayo Ogungbenro admitted he was initially skeptical about the project, but hailed Makinde as a leader who “doesn’t make promises lightly.”