Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has issued a stern warning to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), urging the opposition party to avoid the strategic errors that led to its setbacks in the 2023 elections.
Speaking during a media chat on Monday, Wike emphasized that the PDP should not zone its 2027 presidential ticket to the northern region, arguing that such a move would be a repeat of past miscalculations.
In his remarks, Wike questioned the party’s reluctance to openly declare its intentions, particularly regarding regional representation. “Why not, as a party, come out openly and say our presidential candidate will come out from the south?” he asked, highlighting what he sees as a lack of transparency in the PDP’s internal processes.
Wike, a former governor of Rivers State and a prominent figure in Nigerian politics, suggested that the PDP’s approach in 2023—where zoning decisions were perceived as ambiguous—contributed to internal divisions and electoral losses.
He warned that attempting a similar strategy for the 2027 presidential race would “backfire,” potentially alienating key stakeholders and weakening the party’s position against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The minister’s comments come amid ongoing discussions within the PDP about its strategy for the upcoming elections, including how to select a presidential candidate that could unify the party’s diverse base.
Wike, who has had a tumultuous relationship with the PDP in recent years, including his support for the APC’s Bola Tinubu in the 2023 polls, appears to be positioning himself as a voice of caution for the opposition.
Political analysts note that zoning—the practice of rotating political power between Nigeria’s northern and southern regions—has long been a contentious issue in the country’s politics, aimed at promoting national unity and balancing regional interests. Wike’s intervention underscores the high stakes involved as parties prepare for the 2027 cycle, with potential implications for party cohesion and voter sentiment.
As the PDP continues to regroup and strategize, Wike’s remarks are likely to spark further debate within the party’s ranks, with some members possibly viewing them as a call for greater southern representation in leadership roles. The minister did not elaborate on his own political ambitions during the chat, but his comments add to the growing narrative of regional dynamics shaping Nigeria’s electoral landscape.
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