The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will go ahead with its national convention as planned on March 29 and 30, adding that efforts to reconcile aggrieved members will continue after the event.
Wike also expressed confidence that the party will make a strong comeback in the 2027 general elections, saying it will shock Nigerians with its performance.
He dismissed a Supreme court appeal by a group led by Tanimu Turaki, stating it would not affect the convention.
Speaking on Friday night after inspecting the Moshood Abiola National Stadium Velodrome in Abuja, the venue of the convention, Wike stressed that resolving internal disagreements is an ongoing process.
He said, “There is room for accommodation. The PDP is a very large party. Look at the umbrella, it is wide enough to accommodate everyone.
“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 zoning, Wike confirmed that key positions have already been shared among regions to ensure balance.
“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.”
He added that preparations for the convention are nearly complete.
“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 in Abuja on Sunday and Monday.
