By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has dismissed the decision by a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by Tanimu Turaki to appeal a Court of Appeal judgment to the Supreme Court, describing the move as inconsequential.
Mr Wike spoke on Friday night in Abuja after inspecting the Velodrome of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, the venue for the party’s National Convention scheduled for March 29 and 30.
His remarks came hours after the Turaki-led National Executive Committee (NEC) ratified the National Working Committee’s (NWC) decision to challenge the appellate court’s ruling at the apex court.
Reacting, Mr Wike said the planned appeal would not affect the forthcoming convention. He stated that the event would proceed as scheduled, while efforts to resolve internal party grievances would continue afterward.
“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,” Mr Wike said.
“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.”
The minister expressed confidence that the PDP would demonstrate its political strength in the 2027 general elections. “PDP is a very large party. Look at the umbrella; it is wide enough to accommodate everyone,” he added.
On zoning arrangements, Mr Wike confirmed that key positions had been allocated. “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,” he said. He noted that the consensus arrangement would simplify the process and described the party’s current position as a unified front, distinct from previous “unity lists” that often reflected internal divisions.
Speaking on preparations for the convention, Mr Wike said the venue was approximately 95 per cent ready, with seating arrangements for states and the VIP section already completed.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Mr Wike was accompanied on the inspection by the Chairman of the National Convention Planning Committee, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu; PDP Board of Trustees Chairman, Senator Mao Ohuabunwa; Chairman of the National Caretaker Working Committee (NCWC), Mohammed Abdulrahman; National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu; Chairman of the Rivers Elders’ Council, Chief Ferdinand Alabraba; and former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chibudom Nwuche.
