Makinde Explains Late-Night ADC Meeting

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has clarified the reason behind the visit of a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), led by Tanimu Turaki, to leaders of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), following the party’s “Occupy INEC” protest.

Makinde said the visit was a show of solidarity in response to unfolding political developments across the country.

The governor spoke with journalists after a high-level meeting between ADC leaders and the factional PDP leadership, which lasted late into the night.

“We came here to visit the leadership of ADC; we are on a solidarity visit. We have seen what has been happening within the political space, the court actions and protests, so we came to show solidarity and to commit to a clean democratic space in our country,” he said.

The meeting, described as a strategic opposition gathering, was held at the residence of David Mark in Apo, Abuja, where both the Mark-led ADC faction and Turaki’s PDP faction converged.

Prominent political figures in attendance included former Attorney General Abubakar Malami, former governors Rotimi Amaechi, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Aminu Tambuwal, Peter Obi, and Babangida Aliyu.

Also present were former Information Minister Jerry Gana and PDP National Secretary Taofeek Arapaja.

The closed-door meeting came just hours after the ADC staged a protest at the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja, underscoring growing political tensions and what observers describe as increasing coordination among opposition figures.