The Pathfinder
Monday April 27, 2026
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As the All Progressives Congress (APC) tackled the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, accusing him of inciting violence over his reference to the controversial “Operation Wetie” during an opposition gathering in Ibadan, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said Makinde’s reference to “wetie” was historical and cautionary, not an incitement to violence as alleged by the APC.
The PDP accused the ruling APC and the Federal Government of fueling rising political tension by trying to muzzle the opposition and turn Nigeria into a one party state.
In a strongly worded statement issued in Abuja, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, described the governor’s remarks as “reckless” and a threat to national peace, warning that invoking such a violent episode in Nigeria’s political history could inflame tensions.
“The APC categorically condemns Governor Makinde’s incitement as reckless, and a clear and present threat to peace and national security,” the statement said.
Makinde had, during the opposition summit, raised concerns about what he described as Nigeria’s drift toward a one-party state—remarks the APC dismissed as misleading and politically motivated.
The ruling party argued that referencing “Operation Wetie”—a period associated with political violence in Nigeria’s past—goes beyond normal opposition rhetoric and risks triggering unrest.
It further urged security agencies to take the matter seriously, stressing that public office holders must be held accountable for statements capable of undermining national stability.
Beyond the immediate criticism, the APC dismissed claims that Nigeria is sliding into a one-party system, instead accusing opposition figures, including Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, of weakening their parties through internal divisions and competing ambitions.
The party maintained that Nigeria’s democratic space remains active and plural, insisting that opposition narratives about shrinking political space are “fear-driven and false.”
Reaffirming its position ahead of the 2027 elections, the APC said it remains committed to democratic governance under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, with a focus on strengthening institutions, upholding the rule of law and delivering on its policy agenda.
Replying, the PDP accused APC and the Federal Government of fueling rising political tension.
In a statement on Sunday, PDP National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, said Makinde’s reference to “wetie” was historical and cautionary, not an incitement to violence as alleged by the APC.
The party explained that the comment was intended to draw lessons from Nigeria’s political past and caution against bad governance, repression, and public frustration that could trigger instability.
According to the PDP, the ruling party’s reaction amounts to political panic and misinterpretation, arguing that only those with guilty intentions would construe the statement as incitement.
The opposition further accused the APC of heightening tensions through intimidation and persecution of opposition figures, warning that such actions could undermine democratic stability ahead of the 2027 elections.
It also recalled that the APC, while in opposition, once made remarks about rendering the country ungovernable, insisting the ruling party lacks moral grounds to criticise historical references by others.
The PDP warned that sustained pressure on opposition parties could provoke stronger lawful resistance against what it described as attempts to impose a one-party system.
While reaffirming its commitment to democracy, the party urged the Federal Government, the APC, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure a fair and peaceful electoral process.
It added that responsibility for any political violence before or after the 2027 elections would rest on those in power, whom it accused of creating conditions that fuel tension.
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