The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has expressed confidence that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will deliver a strong showing in the 2027 general elections.
Wike stated this on Friday after inspecting the Moshood Abiola National Stadium Velodrome, venue for the party’s upcoming National Convention scheduled for 29 and 30 March 2026.
He affirmed that the convention would proceed as planned, dismissing concerns over an appeal filed at the Supreme Court by a faction led by Tanimu Turaki, describing it as having no impact on the event.
The minister noted that while reconciliation efforts within the party are ongoing, they would continue even after the convention.
“There is room for accommodation. The PDP is a very large party. Look at the umbrella, it is wide enough to accommodate everyone.
“I have always said that in any group, there will be grievances. You cannot expect that in a family of two or three people, everyone will always be satisfied, let alone a party with millions of members.
“There will always be a few who are not happy. We have agreed to sit down with them, understand their concerns, and see how we can accommodate them. What is most important is the overall interest of the party,” he said.
On zoning arrangements, Wike disclosed that party positions have already been distributed across regions, with the presidency zoned to the South and the national chairmanship to the North.
“We have already zoned our positions. Every zone has its own slots. The presidency has been zoned to the South, while the chairmanship is zoned to the North. We believe this consensus arrangement will make the process easier.
“For the first time, the PDP is presenting a unified front, rather than the usual ‘unity list’ that often reflects internal divisions. There are no factions; everyone has agreed on the direction we are taking,” he added.
Speaking on preparations, the minister said the party was nearing full readiness for the convention.
“We are fully prepared. This visit is to assess final arrangements. As I said, we are about 95 percent ready, and by tomorrow, everything will be set.
“Seating arrangements for all states have been completed, and the VIP section is ready. We do not expect more than 2,500 delegates.”
Wike was accompanied during the inspection by key party stakeholders, including Okezie Ikpeazu, Mao Ohuabunwa, Mohammed Abdulrahman and Samuel Anyanwu, among others.
The PDP National Convention is expected to bring together delegates from across the country to deliberate on party affairs ahead of future elections.
