Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has framed recent developments in the Peoples Democratic Party as a move to restore internal order, saying the party has taken firm steps to address what he described as long-standing leadership lapses.

The governor spoke on Tuesday in Ibadan during the inauguration of the Oyo State PDP Secretariat, an event he used to outline what he called a corrective phase within the opposition party.

Makinde said individuals he referred to as “vagabonds” had previously taken advantage of leadership gaps within the PDP, a situation he linked to the party’s loss of federal power in 2015.

According to him, those gaps allowed internal elements to operate without restraint for nearly a decade, weakening party cohesion and decision-making structures at the national level.

The Oyo State governor disclosed that the party acted in November 2025, when the individuals in question were expelled, insisting that the disciplinary action marked a turning point for the PDP.

He maintained that the expulsions were necessary to reassert authority, enforce party rules, and prevent a repeat of what he described as past leadership failures.

While Makinde did not mention names, political observers believe the remarks are directed at a rival faction within the party, reportedly linked to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

The governor’s comments signal a broader push by PDP leaders to tighten internal controls and project unity ahead of future political contests, as the party seeks to rebuild credibility and organisational strength nationwide.