By Nchetachi Chukwuajah
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, says the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will participate in the 2027 general election despite speculation and internal crises.
Wike, while speaking at a media parley on Friday, April 3, dismisses claims that the party might not remain relevant ahead of the next election cycle.
He said: “I have no doubt that we have a lot of work to do. But what is important is that the PDP will be on the ballot in 2027, as against pundits who have written off that the PDP will not be there, and we are going to make a great impact in certain areas.”
The former Rivers State governor noted that the PDP has remained active despite not producing a president since 2015, stressing the need for the party to strengthen its structures at the sub-national level rather than focusing solely on the presidency.
“From 2015 till now, we never had a president. But the party is still there. So, what my own concern is, what are you going to do to keep the party relevant? Parties will be contesting at sub-national level.
“Everything is not about president, president, president,” he stated.
Wike also cautioned against presenting a presidential candidate without proper preparation, noting that contesting elections requires both emotional and psychological readiness.
He said political parties must build strong grassroots support to remain competitive, warning that winning the presidency without control at lower levels would weaken party influence.
The FCT Minister also declared that the internal wrangling within the party has come to an end, urging members who left the party to return.
He likened politics to a game of football, stressing that politicians must embrace sportsmanship rather than a “fight to finish.”
Wike further urged aggrieved politicians to set aside personal differences for the sake of the party’s progress.
On the fallout from the party’s recent national convention, Wike stated that the time for internal bickering had passed, stressing that the party was now focused on reconciliation and rebuilding its ranks.
“As far as I’m concerned, the convention has come and gone. People are trooping in. I will say, the door is open. Yes, we have had a crisis. Now the crisis is over. Do we still have to shut our doors? No. Certainly not.
“Politics is not a fight to finish. It’s like a game, like football. If you see it as a do-or-die, it becomes difficult to reconcile. For us, it’s not that way.
“We have had our differences, but if you’re really sincere, there’s nothing left. We can do it together and move the party forward.”
To aspiring candidates, the minister stressed that political relevance was earned through visibility and hard work, not title alone.
He hinted that those who remained on the sidelines would not be recognised as serious contenders in future polls.
“There’s no doubt that we have a lot of work to do, but what is important is that we have put the convention behind us,” he added.
