Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has denied rumors of a possible defection from the Peoples Democratic Party, stating that he is still content with the opposition party.
Makinde talked with journalists at the State House in Abuja on Thursday, during his visit to the Presidential Villa.
In a video broadcast by the NTA, Makinde responded to inquiries about his political future with “No, no, no.” “I feel at ease in the PDP.”
“And again, we may have issues in this country where you need a bipartisan approach. Where it won’t be an issue of maybe APC talking alone or PDP talking alone, where we will have to look at what is the best foot forward in the interest of our nation.
“So when you get to that junction, you need everybody on board.”
Chronicle NG reports that President Bola Tinubu held separate meetings with Makinde and Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The two governors arrived at the State House at approximately 3:00 and 3:30 p.m., respectively, with Mutfwang arriving first.
The sessions took place against the backdrop of significant political realignments, as key players began strategic consultations ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Makinde, a PDP member, is one of the few governors who have remained in the party after a wave of defections to the ruling All Progressives Congress.
The Oyo governor is also widely believed to be pursuing a presidential bid with the PDP for the 2027 election.
Mutfwang, on the other hand, recently moved from the PDP to the APC, adding to a growing number of opposition heavyweights who have joined the ruling party.
Thursday’s visit was his first known interaction with Tinubu since his defection.
![Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede-450x300.jpg "Odiong: US-based Nigerian Catholic priest convicted over sexual assault")
