The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has reaffirmed that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will proceed with its national convention scheduled for March 29 and 30, noting that reconciliation efforts among aggrieved members will continue even after the event.
Wike expressed optimism about the party’s chances in the 2027 general elections, stating that the PDP would deliver a performance that will surprise Nigerians.
He also dismissed concerns over a Supreme Court appeal filed by a group led by Tanimu Turaki, insisting it would not disrupt the planned convention.
Speaking after inspecting the Moshood Abiola National Stadium Velodrome in Abuja, Wike emphasized that internal disagreements are normal in any large political party and efforts are ongoing to address them.
He said, “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.”
On zoning arrangements, Wike confirmed that key positions have already been distributed across regions to ensure balance.
“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 that preparations for the convention are nearly complete.
“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.”
The PDP national convention is set to hold in Abuja on Sunday and Monday.