Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has said that despite major defections from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), the most important defection has not yet occurred.
In his bi-monthly newsletter, Makinde stated that the defection refers to the “defection of hunger and hardship”; the only one that truly matters to Nigerians.
He explained that political realignments should not distract citizens from issues that affect their daily lives. According to him, Nigeria’s real progress depends on eliminating poverty, hunger, and despair.
“I am sure many of you have been following the recent defections of politicians, especially governors who have left the PDP for the APC and other parties. With these defections, political pundits have been busy reading meanings into every handshake and silence. But for me, the only defection that truly matters is the one that has not happened yet, the defection of hunger.”
The governor said families face tough choices daily due to rising inequality. He urged Nigerians to focus on ending poverty rather than celebrating party switches.
“Families are being forced to make impossible choices daily. These are the real issues, not political realignment. What we are experiencing is the widening of inequality. While the rich are adjusting, the impoverished are sinking and that is what must command our attention,” he stated.
Makinde stressed that the real source of frustration in the country is hunger, not party politics. He reaffirmed his belief that Nigerians; not politicians, will decide the 2027 general elections.
“No matter how many defections are engineered, it is the Nigerian people who will decide the outcome of the 2027 elections. Our job in the PDP is to continue to provide proof that we can deliver relief where others have brought pain.”
The governor added that the PDP National Convention, set for November in Ibadan, will help refocus the party’s priorities. He said the PDP must move beyond political restructuring and focus on rebuilding lives and restoring hope.
“The PDP National Convention is a chance to start over and shift the party’s emphasis from rebuilding political structures to rebuilding lives,” Makinde concluded.
