The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) did not have the financial strength to sponsor any candidate for the presidential election in the 2027 general election.
Wike stated this during his monthly media parley in Abuja on Friday, where he dismissed claims of factionalisation in the PDP and spoke candidly about the internal realities confronting the opposition party, especially as it looks ahead to the next presidential race.
Wike then made perhaps his bluntest remark of the session, saying the PDP did not have the financial capacity to bankroll a presidential hopeful.
“As a party, the party does not have money,” he declared.
The minister said anyone genuinely interested in contesting for the presidency must first be able to assess his own strength and determine whether he has the personal capacity to launch a serious bid.
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“If for example, I want to contest for president, I’ve checked myself and I have something to start with,” Wike said. “But nobody alone can stand and win the presidency,” he said.
According to him, even financial backers and political supporters only rally behind candidates they believed can make a meaningful impact in the race.
“Even supporters will only come to support when they know you have the chance to make any impact,” Wike added.
Responding to concerns about divisions within the party, the former Rivers State governor rejected the suggestion that the PDP was split into factions.
“It’s you people that are always talking about faction. We don’t know any faction,” Wike said.
To back his position, he pointed to the conduct of recent party activities, arguing that the legitimacy of a political process can be measured by institutional recognition, particularly from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“When they did convention at Ibadan, did you see any INEC there, but INEC was in our convention,” he said.
Turning to the issue of the PDP’s presidential prospects, Wike said the party wa not taking the 2027 contest lightly and has already begun internal assessment on whether it stands a realistic chance of winning.
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“We have formed a committee to look at the viability of our winning election as long as the presidency is concerned,” he said.
According to him, it would be politically irresponsible for anyone to simply wake up and declare presidential ambition without the structure, resources and preparation required for such a high-stakes contest.
“How can somebody just stand up now and say they want to contest and become the president of Nigeria and the primary is starting in May — do you see any seriousness in that?” Wike asked.
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He said that as one of the party’s national leaders, he would not encourage what he described as unserious ambition or allow unprepared aspirants to enter a race they are not equipped to run.
“I will not, because I am one of the national leaders of the party, see that somebody is not prepared and then say go and buy form and contest president,” Wike said.
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