PDP will shock Nigerians in 2027, says Wike as party prepares for National Convention

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has declared that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will demonstrate its strength and shock Nigerians in the 2027 general elections.

Wike also affirmed that the party’s National Convention, scheduled for March 29 and 30, will proceed as planned, adding that reconciliation efforts with aggrieved members will continue after the convention. He dismissed an appeal filed by the Tanimu Turaki group at the Supreme Court, stating that it does not affect the convention.

Speaking on Friday night after inspecting the Moshood Abiola National Stadium Velodrome, the convention venue in Abuja, Wike explained that reconciliation is an ongoing process. He was accompanied by the Chairman of the National Convention Planning Committee, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu; PDP Board of Trustees Chairman, Senator Mao Ohuabunwa; Chairman of the National Caretaker Working Committee (NCWC), Mohammed Abdulrahman; National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu; and other members of the NCWC, as well as Chairman of the Rivers State Elders Council, Chief Ferdinand Alabraba, and former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chibudom Nwuche, among others.

The minister emphasized that the convention will go ahead while efforts to resolve internal disputes continue afterward.

“There is room for accommodation. The PDP is a very large party. Look at the umbrella, it is wide enough to accommodate everyone,” he said.

“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 the zoning arrangement, Wike confirmed that positions have already been allocated across regions.

“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.”

The minister also addressed the level of preparedness for the convention, stating, “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 convention is scheduled to hold on Sunday, March 29, and Monday, March 30.

About The Author

Dele Fashomi

Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.

Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.

He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.

Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).

He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.

He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.

Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled:  Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.

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