The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has insisted that its presidential candidate, Senator Sandy Ojang Onor, will contest the January 16, 2027 presidential election, declaring that the party will inaugurate its Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) despite the decision of its national leader and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid.

The party said Wike’s support for Tinubu was a personal political decision that did not represent the position of the PDP, adding that preparations were underway to constitute and inaugurate its own campaign council ahead of the election.

The development comes days after Wike and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) confirmed the minister’s inclusion in Tinubu’s revised Presidential Campaign Council.

Tinubu had named Wike as campaign coordinator for Rivers State and the FCT on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, formalising the minister’s public declaration of support for the President.

Wike had defended his decision by arguing that the PDP was not sufficiently organised to win the presidential election, insisting that the party needed to rebuild its structures before pursuing power at the centre.

“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 said.

The minister added that rebuilding the PDP and strengthening its performance at state level should take priority over an immediate presidential victory.

However, the PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Jungudo Haruna Mohammed, told the Nigerian Tribune on Monday that the party had not abandoned the presidential contest and was preparing to inaugurate its own campaign council.

Mohammed said the names of members of the PCC were being compiled ahead of its inauguration, after which the party would commence its presidential campaign.

He dismissed suggestions that Wike’s support for Tinubu meant the PDP had adopted the President as its candidate, stressing that the minister did not speak for the party on the matter.

“Has there been any official statement from the PDP? Is the honourable minister the chairman of the party? Is he the spokesperson of the party? Is he the NEC of the party? Don’t expect him to do anything less than that (supporting Tinubu),” he said.

The spokesperson argued that Wike’s position was consistent with his role as a member of Tinubu’s cabinet, describing his support for the President as an expected political response.

“As a cabinet minister, he is expected to reciprocate the kindness shown to him. It would be unreasonable to expect the minister not to support the President,” Mohammed said.

He, however, maintained that the PDP would proceed with its own campaign arrangements, insisting that the party’s decision to contest the election remained unchanged.

“However, as things stand, the PDP will still constitute its own presidential campaign council and launch its presidential campaign. Is it not just today that the NDC will launch its own? What if we choose to unveil ours today too? What if we decide to bring it out now?” he asked.

Mohammed said the party would unveil and inaugurate its PCC at the appropriate time, adding that the PDP was not in conflict with Wike over his personal decision to support Tinubu.

He explained that the minister’s support had previously received the party’s approval under the leadership of Ambassador Umar Damagun and that the approval had not been withdrawn.

“There is no confusion. He is on his own, and we will do our own thing,” he said.

On the prospects of the PDP’s presidential candidate against Tinubu, Mohammed expressed confidence in Onor, citing his determination and the party’s belief that Nigerians wanted an alternative to the APC.

“Have Nigerians realised that the APC has not offered anything that would make them give the party a second chance? So far, they have not said anything that would persuade Nigerians to give them another opportunity. We believe the PDP is the only alternative,” he said.

He added that the party would present its campaign message and policy proposals when it formally launches its campaign. (Nigerian Tribune)