Wike dismisses PDP–APM alliance claim, calls it ‘fraud’

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has rejected reports of an electoral alliance between the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) faction led by Kabiru Turaki and the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), describing the arrangement as fraudulent.

The claim of a PDP–APM alliance surfaced on Wednesday when the Turaki-led PDP faction told TheCable that it had entered into a partnership with the APM ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Following that development, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde announced his intention to run for president in 2027, stating that the reported alliance would allow the PDP to present candidates across all elective positions in the upcoming polls.

However, speaking on Thursday during an inspection of road projects in Abuja, Wike dismissed the claims, insisting that no such alliance exists. He accused Makinde of misleading the public and dismissed the arrangement as “419,” a Nigerian slang term for fraud.

According to him, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is aware that no formal PDP–APM coalition has been registered or recognised.

Wike further argued that ongoing internal processes within a PDP faction led by Abdulrahman Mohammed demonstrate that the party is operating independently and not in partnership with any other political group.

He added that the PDP has already presented a presidential candidate and challenged the legitimacy of any contrary claims, insisting that no official submission reflecting a PDP–APM alliance would be recognised by INEC.

Wike also alleged that Makinde’s association with the APM was driven by personal political ambition, describing his presidential bid as unlikely to succeed.