“YOU ARE OYO: SHEHU SANI WARNS MAKINDE AS PDP CRUMBLES AND BALA MOHAMMED FLIRTS WITH APC”

Former Nigerian senator Shehu Sani has issued a stark warning to Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, cautioning that he risks political isolation as the ranks of Nigeria’s main opposition party continue to thin out.

Sani delivered the message in a satirical post on X on Sunday, March 15, 2026, deploying humour and symbolism to underscore what he described as Makinde’s increasingly fragile political standing within the opposition.

Using Nigeria’s major telecommunications networks as an analogy, Sani suggested that if Makinde attempts to reach his perceived political ally, Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, through different networks—MTN Group, Airtel, or Globacom—and none connects, then the Oyo governor should prepare to stand alone politically.

In his words, Sani wrote:

“Dear Makinde, if you call Bala on his MTN and the line is not going through, call his Airtel and if it’s still not going through, try his Glo. If all the lines are not going through, you are OYO; on your own.”

Political observers interpret the remark as both satire and a serious warning, reflecting deepening uncertainty within the Peoples Democratic Party as prominent figures reportedly weigh defection to the ruling party.

The comment comes amid mounting reports that Governor Bala Mohammed, who currently chairs the PDP Governors’ Forum, is considering a move to the All Progressives Congress. Sources claim Mohammed has held high-level talks with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and senior APC leaders as part of ongoing negotiations.

Insiders further suggest that the Bauchi governor may have been offered an APC senatorial ticket ahead of the 2027 elections, though discussions are said to include tough conditions—particularly over his influence in selecting a successor in Bauchi State.

Should Mohammed’s defection materialise, analysts warn it could dramatically reshape Nigeria’s political landscape. Such a move would further consolidate APC dominance at the state level, potentially pushing the party’s control to as many as 32 of Nigeria’s 36 states.

In that scenario, the PDP’s influence at the sub-national level would be severely diminished, leaving Governor Makinde as possibly the party’s only remaining state governor—a development that could redefine opposition politics as the country heads toward the next general election cycle.