Wike Gives Condition for PDP to Win Nigeria's Presidency

Wike Gives Condition for PDP to Win Nigeria’s Presidency
He urges opposition parties to strengthen grassroots structures nationwide.
Wike dismisses claims that he is working for the APC.

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) must resolve its internal crisis and rebuild its structures before it can realistically compete for the presidency.

Speaking during a media chat on Thursday, Wike said no political party could expect to win a presidential election without first strengthening its internal organisation and grassroots support across the country.

EKO HOT BLOG reports that according to the former Rivers State governor, the PDP’s prolonged internal disputes have weakened the party and made a return to presidential victory a difficult task.

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“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,” Wike said.

The FCT minister also criticised the growing perception that Nigeria’s democracy depends on the participation of a few opposition politicians in elections.

“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 opposition parties must focus on building strong political structures rather than expecting to secure victory without adequate preparation.

“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,” he stated.

He stressed that political parties should first consolidate their presence at the ward, local government and state levels before pursuing national leadership.

“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 added.

Wike also dismissed claims that he was working for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), insisting that his position on the PDP’s challenges had always been consistent and public.

“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.

Wike Gives Condition for PDP to Win Nigeria's Presidency — Wike Gives Condition for PDP to Win Nigeria’s Presidency

The minister maintained that winning a presidential election requires long term planning, discipline and an effective political structure across Nigeria.

“Do you know what it takes to have structures in 36 states? Even people who want to run for governor in their own state know the amount of planning involved. It is not an easy thing,” he added.