The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has reaffirmed that the national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party will take place as scheduled on March 29 and 30, noting that efforts to reconcile aggrieved members will continue beyond the convention.
He added that about 2,500 delegates are expected to attend the gathering, as the party positions itself for the 2027 general elections.
Wike spoke on Friday night after inspecting the Moshood Abiola National Stadium Velodrome in Abuja, the convention venue, where he expressed satisfaction with the level of preparedness while downplaying internal disagreements and ongoing legal challenges.
He dismissed the appeal filed at the Supreme Court by the Tanimu Turaki group, insisting that it would not affect the planned convention.
The minister also expressed optimism about the party’s future, declaring that the PDP would surprise Nigerians in the next general elections.
Wike 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 everyone in a family of two or three people to be always 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.”
He maintained that reconciliation within the party would not end with the convention, describing it as a continuous process aimed at strengthening unity ahead of future elections.
On zoning arrangements, the minister confirmed that party positions had already been distributed across regions to ensure balance and consensus.
“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 said.
Wike also gave an update on preparations, indicating that logistics and arrangements were nearly complete.
“We are fully prepared. This visit is to assess final arrangements. As I said, we expect to reach about 95 per cent by tomorrow, and 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,” he added.
The inspection tour was attended by key party figures, including Chairman of the National Convention Planning Committee, Okezie Ikpeazu; Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees, Mao Ohuabunwa; Chairman of the National Caretaker Working Committee, Mohammed Abdulrahman; and National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu, among others.