Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike has declared that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is not in a position to reclaim power in the 2027 presidential election, citing the party’s lingering internal crisis.
Speaking during his monthly media briefing in Abuja on Thursday, Wike said the PDP must first rebuild its internal structures before it can realistically challenge for Nigeria’s highest office.
The former Rivers State governor argued that the party’s current divisions have weakened its electoral prospects, making victory in the next presidential election an uphill task.
“I have told you that the PDP has a problem. Having that problem, it is not easy to put yourself back to winning a presidential election. It’s not an easy task,” Wike said.
He advised party leaders to focus on strengthening the PDP from the grassroots, beginning with state and ward structures, rather than concentrating solely on the 2027 presidential race.
“We are not even talking about ordinary ward elections. What is more important now is building the party, seeing what you can do at the state level, putting your pieces together and preparing,” he added.
Wike also criticised what he described as the growing tendency to define Nigeria’s democracy by the participation of certain opposition figures. Referring to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, he questioned the narrative that democracy depends on whether the two politicians contest elections.
“To Nigerians now, the only way democracy is active is when ADC and NDC participate in the election. Democracy is now defined by the participation of Peter Obi and Atiku. If they don’t participate, people say there is no democracy. That’s the level we’ve taken ourselves to,” he said.
The minister also revisited past allegations that he was working in favour of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), saying many of those who made the accusations are now silent.
His remarks come as political parties continue early consultations and realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections, with the PDP still grappling with leadership disputes and internal divisions.
