The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, has written off the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) in the contest for political power in 2027, declaring that it lacked a formidable structure to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Insisting that the PDP was not ready for the 2027 general elections, the immediate past governor of Rivers State likened the party to a student preparing for an examination and going to a classroom pretending to read to give the impression that he was studying whereas he was not.
Speaking during a live media chat in Abuja on Friday, Wike criticised the internal workings of the PDP and expressed doubts about its preparedness for the next election.
According to him, “The PDP is not ready for the 2027 election. It is very obvious. For instance, I have an examination, and I am going to class to read. Indeed, am I reading? Am I studying? You don’t need to deceive anybody that you are reading. You are only trying to read so that people will see that you have carried your bag to class,” he said.
“That is the situation of the PDP. So, they cannot say for sure that they are ready for 2027. Power struggle cannot help the party.”
Wike, who is being blamed for the seemingly intractable crisis in the PDP, had led four other governors to pull out of the party’s presidential campaign over their grievance in retaining the presidential ticket in the north contrary to its principle of zoning as provided for in the party’s constitution.
But rising in stout defence of the minister on Wednesday, a strong political ally and National Vice Chairman, South South Zone of the PDP, Chief Dan Osi Orbih insisted that Wike is not the problem of the party, but indirectly blamed it on Atiku’s perennial interest in contesting for the presidency at every election.
Orbih spoke in Benin City, Edo State during a hand-over ceremony of a state secretariat he donated to the party.
According to him, “PDP is a formidable party, but it still has its own problems which we can not shy away from.
“Wike is not our party’s problem; the problem we have are those who have entrenched interest in contesting every presidential election without adhering to the constitution “We must put our past behind us and collaborate with genuine members of the party to rebuild the PDP”.
Chief Orbih called on the acting national chairman of the party, Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum, to come up with a programme for congresses that would bring on board new leaders to reposition the party and make it an envy of other political parties.