FCT Minister Nyesom Wike addresses journalists during a media chat in Abuja, saying the Peoples Democratic Party must rebuild its structures and resolve internal crises before it can win another presidential election
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) cannot win a presidential election unless it rebuilds its internal structures and resolves its lingering internal crisis.
Speaking during a media chat on Thursday, Wike said political parties must first strengthen their grassroots structures and demonstrate electoral success at the state level before aspiring to win the presidency.
He argued that rebuilding the PDP should take precedence over focusing on the 2027 presidential election, saying the party must first put its house in order.
Wike said expecting to win the presidency without a functional party structure across the country was unrealistic, noting that building a national political platform requires time, planning and organisation.
The former Rivers State governor also criticised what he described as the growing perception that Nigeria’s democracy depends on the participation of a few opposition politicians in elections.
He maintained that democracy should not be defined by whether particular presidential candidates contest elections, insisting that the country’s democratic process extends beyond individual political figures.
Wike also dismissed allegations that he was working for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), saying he had consistently advised the PDP to address its internal challenges rather than engage in accusations.
According to him, political parties seeking national office must first build strong structures in all 36 states, consolidate their support at the grassroots and improve their performance in state elections before targeting the presidency.
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