Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has declared his support for the acting chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Umar Ilya Damagum.

He said that both he and the governor of Osun State, Ademola Adeleke, are fully behind Damagum and his leadership team.

Makinde made the declaration on Wednesday when he performed the ground-breaking ceremony for the upgrading of the Samuel Ladoke Akintola Airport, Alakia, Ibadan to international standard.

He said: “Tongues have been wagging about my absence at the campaign grand finale. Let me declare that Seyi Makinde is 100 percent with our candidate in Edo State, Asue Ighodalo. If Edo people want to know the difference between delicious and nutritious, they should vote for Asue Ighodalo to get what is nutritious.

“And I am glad that our acting national chairman and members of his National Working Committee (NWC) are here. I read yesterday that there is another meeting in Bauchi by some NWC members. Let me say clearly, I have been discussing with my brother on our way here. We are 100 percent in support of the Iliya Damagun-led NWC. Whatever decision you take, we will support you in repositioning our party.

“Let me also say I don’t think this is the right time to have issues with ourselves. We have an important election on Saturday, so we should all rally around and deliver our candidate.”

The development comes amid ongoing tensions and disagreements within the PDP.

Notedly, some party members, including PDP governors, are pushing for the removal of Damagum from his position as acting chairman.

The governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed, who also chairs the PDP Governors’ Forum, recently revealed the position of the party Governors after a meeting with the NWC on Tuesday night.

He said the leadership crisis in the party needs to be resolved, and the North Central region should be allowed to complete the term of former PDP chairman Iyorchia Ayu, who is from Benue State.

Ayu was removed from his position in June 2023, and Damagum was appointed as the acting chairman following his departure.

Governor Bala Mohammed also pointed out that Damagum’s continuation in office was a “constitutional issue” that needed to be addressed.

Damagum’s connection to Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has been an issue for a section within the party.