The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has said the Peoples Democratic Party will struggle to reclaim the presidency in 2027 unless it resolves its internal disputes and rebuilds its structures nationwide.
Speaking during a media chat in Abuja on Thursday, Wike stressed that winning a presidential election requires years of planning, a strong grassroots presence and a united party.
He argued that the PDP must first consolidate its position in state and local politics before mounting a serious bid for the presidency.
“I have told you that PDP had a problem. Now, having that problem is not easy. To put yourself back to winning the presidential election is not an easy task,” he said.
The former Rivers State governor also criticised the notion that the credibility of Nigeria’s democracy depends on the participation of a few prominent opposition politicians.
“The only way people now say there is democracy is if the ADC or NDC participate in the election. Democracy is not about only Atiku contesting or only Peter Obi contesting,” Wike stated.
He maintained that no political party can realistically expect to win the presidency without first putting its internal affairs in order and building effective structures across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
“You have not even put your house in order, yet you want to win a presidential election. Do you know what it takes to have structures in all 36 states? Do you know what it takes to campaign across the country? It’s not a two-month programme,” he said.
Wike urged political parties to focus on grassroots mobilisation and state-level performance as the foundation for national success.
He also dismissed past allegations that he was acting on behalf of the ruling All Progressives Congress, insisting that his consistent position has been for the PDP to address its internal challenges and strengthen itself ahead of future elections.
