2027 Presidential race: We’ll negotiate with APC – PDP

News Update

THE Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has declared that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lacks the capacity to produce a credible presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections, signaling that his political group is prepared to negotiate with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)

Wike made the bombshell statement during a Board of Trustees (BoT) meeting of the PDP held in Abuja on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. The session, convened by the Wike-backed faction of the party under BoT Chairman Senator Mao Ohuabunwa, It followed closely on the heels of a recent Court of Appeal ruling that affirmed the nullification of the PDP’s November 2025 national convention in Ibadan, Oyo State, further deepening the party’s protracted internal crisis.

The discussions centering on the party’s leadership legitimacy, reconciliation efforts, and strategies ahead of 2027. Wike, a key figure in the Abdulrahman Mohammed-led BoT faction, reportedly used the platform to reiterate his long-standing criticisms of the PDP’s current structure and direction.

“The PDP isn’t capable of producing a presidential candidate that can win a national election in its present state,” Wike was quoted as saying. “We are going to negotiate with the APC to protect our interests and ensure meaningful participation in the political process moving forward.”

The remarks come amid ongoing factional battles within the PDP, including rival claims to party leadership, court battles over conventions, and defections by prominent members. Wike’s camp has positioned itself as the legitimate leadership following various judicial outcomes, while accusing opposing groups—linked to figures such as former Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde—of sabotaging party unity.

The PDP has faced repeated crises since the 2023 elections, with internal rifts over zoning, leadership, and candidate selection contributing to electoral setbacks. Wike’s declaration has already sparked reactions from party stakeholders, with some calling it a betrayal and others seeing it as pragmatic realism given the PDP’s weakened position.

As the party grapples with these developments, the outcome of the BoT meeting and subsequent actions could determine whether reconciliation is possible or if further fragmentation—and possible negotiations with the APC—lies ahead.