Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Nyesom Wike, has firmly stated that the party cannot afford to zone its presidential ticket to the North in the 2027 elections.
Speaking to journalists in Abuja on May 12, Wike warned that continuing such a pattern would only fuel political imbalance and harm the party’s chances.
“PDP can’t send the presidency to the North! I’ve told them — selfishness can destroy a system,” he said. “If President Tinubu wins re-election in 2027, by 2031 the APC will rotate the presidency to the North. What will PDP do then? Follow suit again? What kind of logic is that?”
Addressing questions about his loyalty to the PDP—given his support for the APC-led federal government and endorsement of some PDP defections to the ruling party—Wike insisted he remains a committed PDP member.
“Justice must be done. I never left the party. I stood against injustice and said I won’t support it,” he said.
When asked if his actions are contributing to internal divisions within the PDP, Wike responded, “No, I am not tearing the party apart. I am building it.”
Wike was a central figure in the intra-party crisis leading up to the 2023 general elections, where he openly opposed PDP presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar. He has long maintained that the party broke its own zoning agreement by failing to nominate a southern candidate while retaining the national chairmanship in the North.