Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has firmly dismissed speculation that he may defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), declaring that he remains firmly outside the party.

“I am not APC, and I am not about to become APC,” Makinde said on Wednesday in Abuja.

The governor spoke at the public presentation of Headlines and Soundbites: Media Moments that Defined an Administration, a book authored by former Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed.

Makinde argued that Nigeria’s challenges are deepened by the ambitions of political elites rather than the wishes of ordinary citizens, noting that most Nigerians desire unity and peaceful coexistence.

He warned against winner-takes-all politics, saying it breeds exclusion and weakens national cohesion.

According to him, the political class must reach a consensus that prioritises good governance and solutions to pressing national problems, rather than recycling old rivalries.

Makinde also reflected on political perseverance, noting that success often comes with time, citing his own experience and that of former President Muhammadu Buhari, both of whom lost elections before eventually winning.

He called for deliberate efforts to build inclusive political and governance systems capable of ensuring fairness, stability and national progress.