By Modupe Bankole
Oyo State Governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde, has declared that there are “no more vagabonds” in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), saying elements that once destabilised the party have been expelled, as he commissioned the newly built Oyo State PDP Secretariat at Oke-Ado, Ibadan, named Mustapha Omikunmi House.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Governor Makinde described Ibadan as the political, administrative, and cultural capital of Yorubaland, while dismissing speculations and internal wranglings within the PDP.
Drawing from a Yoruba proverb, the governor said a peaceful house signifies maturity, stressing that those he referred to as “vagabonds” had their time between 2015 and 2025 but were expelled from the party in November 2025.
Makinde recalled that the PDP lost power at the federal level in 2015, a development he said created a leadership vacuum that allowed such elements to gain influence within the party. He added that although he came into government in 2019 and was briefly associated with them until 2023, he had since disengaged and repositioned himself, insisting that the PDP would not be handed over for another party to remain in power.
Dismissing narratives being circulated by some individuals, the governor said lies may be peddled for years but the truth would always prevail. He expressed confidence in Nigeria’s judiciary, noting that all pending court cases would eventually be resolved, describing the judiciary as the last hope of the common man.
The governor announced two major decisions at the event, recalling that the PDP was out of power in Oyo State between 2011 and 2019 before returning under the leadership of Alhaji Mustapha Omikunmi. He therefore declared that the new state secretariat would be named Mustapha Omikunmi House, directing that the former chairman’s name be permanently inscribed on the building. He also formally presented the property documents of the secretariat to the PDP National Chairman for onward transmission to the party’s Board of Trustees.
Earlier, Oyo State PDP Chairman, Hon. Dayo Ogungbenro, described the commissioning as a testament to visionary leadership and party unity, as he welcomed national party leaders and stakeholders to the state. He extended special greetings to former Kano State Governor, Senator Ibrahim Shekarau, the PDP National Chairman, Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja, SAN, Turaki, members of the National Working Committee, and other party leaders.
“I credibly and wholeheartedly welcome you all to Oyo State. Your presence here today further affirms the strength, leadership quality, and national outlook of our great party,” Ogungbenro said.
The state chairman recounted that the idea of building a PDP state secretariat was initially greeted with skepticism due to financial constraints, but said Governor Makinde’s swift approval demonstrated uncommon leadership. He also recalled the governor’s promise to build a Southwest zonal secretariat in honour of the late Soji Adagunodo, noting that the facility was commissioned in 2024.
Ogungbenro credited the governor for the achievement and challenged party members to reciprocate the gesture with unity and hard work ahead of the 2027 general elections. “There is no vacancy in the Oyo State Government House in 2027. The confidence of the people in the PDP will be reaffirmed,” he declared.
Governor Makinde, in his closing remarks, dismissed the actions of detractors, likening them to “people wearing rags and dancing at midnight,” noting that such actions would soon collapse, before inviting the PDP National Chairman to cut the tape and make his remarks.
, saying elements that once destabilised){kind=link}