OPPOSITION IN DISARRAY: AP, ADC, PDP, LP disown Ibadan Summit as APC slams Makinde over ‘Wetie’ remarks
By NigeianSketch Political Correspondent
The recent opposition summit held in Ibadan, which was intended to signal a unified front against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 general elections, has descended into a full-blown political crisis.
Rather than forging an alliance, the meeting has triggered a wave of disavowals, legal threats, and heated exchanges, leaving the opposition more fractured than before.
Key political parties—including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), African Democratic Congress (ADC), Accord Party, and Labour Party—have officially distanced themselves from the summit. Leaders of these parties have labeled the organizers as “impostors,” insisting that the gathering did not represent their official stances or party mandates.
A summit of disavowals
Despite the presence of high-profile political figures at the Ibadan gathering—including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Senate President David Mark, former Governor Peter Obi, and former Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso—the event has been rejected by the established leadership structures of the participating parties.
The PDP’s National Working Committee, currently backed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, was swift in its condemnation. Jungudo Mohammed, the party’s national publicity secretary, dismissed the attendees as “impostors” who lack the authority to negotiate on behalf of the party.
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“Our party cannot be part of that arrangement,” Mohammed stated, emphasizing that the PDP has not entered into any alliance with opposition parties or the ruling APC. “The individuals who attended in the PDP’s name are restricted by court order from acting as party leaders.”
The sentiment was echoed by other parties.
ADC: Both major factions of the party, led by Kingsley Ogga and Nafiu Gombe respectively, rejected the summit, asserting that they are committed to fielding their own candidates independently.
Labour Party: The party’s Interim national chairman, Nenadi Usman, stated that the party is focused on its upcoming convention and internal consolidation, rather than external coalition talks.
Accord Party: In a sharp rebuke, the party threatened legal action against the organizers, accusing them of “political impersonation” for unauthorized use of the party’s name and symbol. Prof. Chris Imumolen’s camp issued a 48-hour ultimatum for the conveners to explain the breach.
The ‘operation wetie’ controversy
The summit also ignited a firestorm of controversy over remarks made by the chief host and Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde. During his address, the Governor cautioned the federal government against suppressing the political will of Nigerians, referencing the violent “Operation Wetie” political uprising that occurred in Western Nigeria in 1965.
The ruling APC reacted with sharp criticism, accusing Governor Makinde of inciting violence. In a statement by the party’s national publicity secretary, Felix Morka, the APC declared that such rhetoric is unbefitting of a governor.
“It is particularly disturbing for a sitting Governor, who bears constitutional responsibility as the Chief Security Officer of his state, to conjure up one of the darkest episodes of political violence in Nigeria’s history to threaten violence,” the statement read.
The Oyo State chapter of the APC further described the summit participants as “clownish characters” and dismissed the opposition’s plan for a joint ticket as a failure, noting that they are “gathering palm fronds to fix a damaged vehicle.”
Defense of the summit
In response to the backlash, the faction of the PDP led by Tanimu Turaki (SAN) came to the defense of Governor Makinde. Ememobong, the party’s publicity scribe, argued that the Governor’s reference to history was a “sobering reminder” rather than a threat.
“Only a guilty aggressor can interpret it to mean a threat or call to violence,” the statement countered, adding that the APC itself had employed similar rhetoric when it was in the opposition.
The Turaki-led faction maintained that the summit was a necessary step to prevent the enthronement of a one-party state, vowing to continue exploring strategies within the ambit of the law to provide a credible alternative to the current administration.
As the dust settles, the Ibadan summit serves as a stark reminder of the deep-seated divisions plaguing the opposition. With legal challenges pending, party factions warring, and the ruling party capitalizing on the disarray, the path to a coherent opposition coalition for 2027 remains heavily obstructed.
