The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) cannot realistically expect to win a presidential election unless it first resolves its internal challenges and rebuilds its political structures across the country.
Wike made the remarks during a media chat on Thursday, stressing that no political party can secure victory at the national level without first strengthening its grassroots base and restoring internal unity.
According to the former Rivers State governor, rebuilding the PDP should take precedence over discussions about winning the presidency, given the party’s lingering internal crises.
“The only way people now say there is democracy is if the ADC or NDC participate in the election. Democracy, for us in Nigeria, has now been defined by whether Atiku participates or whether Peter Obi participates.
“If they don’t participate, people say there is no democracy. Democracy is not about only Atiku contesting or only Peter Obi contesting,” he said.
Wike argued that the PDP’s immediate priority should be strengthening its structures from the ward level upward rather than focusing solely on the next presidential election.
“I have told you that PDP had a problem. Now, having that problem is not easy. To put yourself back to winning the presidential election is not an easy task.
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“You are not even talking about the ward election; it is difficult. What is more paramount to us is to build the party, show what you can do at the state level, get the ones you build and put the pieces together,” he added.
The FCT minister also questioned the readiness of opposition parties to challenge for power at the national level without adequate planning and organisation.
According to him, building a political party capable of competing for the presidency requires years of preparation, extensive grassroots mobilisation and functioning structures in all 36 states of the federation.
“You have not even put your house in order, yet you want to win a presidential election. Do you know what it takes to have structures in all 36 states? Do you know what it takes to campaign across the country? Is it a two-month programme? It’s not,” Wike said.
He urged political parties to concentrate on winning elections at the state level, consolidating their support base and gradually positioning themselves for future national contests.
“What is more paramount to us Nigerians? Build a party, see what you can do at the state level, get the votes you can get, put your pieces together, then prepare,” he stated.
Wike also dismissed claims that he was secretly working for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), noting that despite previous allegations against him, he has consistently maintained his position on the need for the PDP to reform itself.
“Was I not the one who was accused of being an agent of APC? Those who accused me, where are they? I am still here. Everybody knows what I have said. I have not hidden it, and I have told our party, ‘Let’s put our house in order,’” he said.
