The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has said the Peoples Democratic Party will struggle to reclaim the presidency in the 2027 general election unless it resolves its internal problems and rebuilds its political structures across the country.
He made the remarks on Thursday during a media chat, where he spoke about the state of opposition politics and the challenges facing the PDP.
Wike said the party cannot expect to win a presidential election without first fixing its internal divisions and strengthening its presence from the grassroots. According to him, rebuilding the party should begin at the ward and state levels before any serious plan to contest the presidency.
The former Rivers State governor also questioned the growing belief that Nigeria’s democracy depends on the participation of a few opposition politicians. He said democracy should not be measured by whether certain political figures decide to contest elections, adding that the country’s democratic process is bigger than any individual.
He noted that the PDP has been dealing with internal disputes for some time and said recovering from those challenges would require time, planning and commitment. Wike explained that organising a party capable of winning a presidential election involves building effective structures in all 36 states and cannot be achieved within a short period.
According to him, opposition parties should first focus on proving themselves in state elections, expanding their support base and putting strong structures in place before setting their sights on the presidency.
Wike also recalled that he was once accused of secretly working for the ruling All Progressives Congress. He said those allegations have not changed his position that the PDP must first resolve its internal issues if it hopes to become competitive again.
The minister maintained that preparing for a presidential election requires years of planning, solid grassroots organisation and a functional party network across the country.
He said even governorship elections require extensive preparation, making the presidential race an even greater task for any political party that is not properly organised.