Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has brushed off the Supreme Court appeal filed by the Kabiru Tanimu Turaki-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party, saying it will not affect the party’s upcoming National Convention.
Wike also expressed strong confidence in the PDP’s chances ahead of the 2027 general elections, stating that the party would surprise Nigerians and reclaim its political strength.
Speaking after inspecting the Moshood Abiola National Stadium Velodrome in Abuja, where the convention is set to hold on March 29 and 30, the minister said preparations are almost complete. He added that ongoing reconciliation efforts within the party would not delay the event.
“The convention will go on as planned. Reconciliation is continuous. It doesn’t stop because of a convention—we will keep engaging aggrieved members even after,” he said.
Dismissing concerns about the court case, Wike insisted the appeal has no impact on the party’s plans, stressing that the focus remains on strengthening the PDP and preparing for the future.
He was joined during the inspection by several party leaders, including former Abia State governor Okezie Ikpeazu, who chairs the convention planning committee, as well as other key officials.
Wike acknowledged that disagreements are normal in a large political party but maintained that they are being properly managed. According to him, the PDP remains united despite internal differences.
“The PDP is a big platform with room for everyone. Issues will always come up, but what matters is how they are handled in the interest of the party,” he said.
On zoning, he revealed that the party has agreed to allocate the presidential ticket to the South and the chairmanship position to the North, a move he believes will make the process smoother and more widely accepted.
He also noted that, unlike in the past, the party is not operating with a divisive “unity list,” but instead has a shared direction among members.
Assessing preparations, Wike said the party is about 95 percent ready for the convention, with logistics such as seating arrangements and delegate coordination already finalised.
“We are almost fully ready. Everything will be in place before the convention begins. We are expecting about 2,500 delegates,” he said.
Reaffirming his optimism, Wike said the PDP is working to rebuild trust and reconnect with Nigerians, promising a stronger showing in the next general elections.
