Ahead of the 2027 presidential election, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has expressed doubts about the Peoples Democratic Party’s chances of making a strong showing in the poll, citing the challenges the party has faced.

His doubts came as the candidate of the party, Sandy Onor, had reportedly settled on the National Vice Chairman (North East), Babangida Umaru, as the vice-presidential candidate.

The Independent National Electoral Commission had fixed 6:00 p.m. on July 11, 2026, as the deadline for political parties to submit the nomination forms of their presidential and National Assembly candidates through its online nomination portal.

The exercise, which commenced on June 27, covers the submission of Forms EC9 and EC9A to EC9E in line with Section 29(1) of the Electoral Act, 2026.

The commission also scheduled the submission of nomination forms for governorship and state Houses of Assembly candidates to begin at 9:00 a.m. on July 18 and close at 6:00 p.m. on August 8, 2026.

Reacting to the issues in the party, Wike, in a media chat on Thursday, said it would be difficult for the PDP to win a presidential election unless it first rebuilt its internal structures and resolved its lingering internal crises.

The minister said political parties could not expect to win the presidency without first putting their house in order and strengthening their grassroots structures.

He stated, “The only way people now say there is democracy is if the ADC or NDC participate and win the presidential election.

“Democracy in Nigeria has now been defined by whether Atiku (Abubakar) participates or whether Peter Obi participates. If they do not participate, people say there is no democracy. Democracy is not about only Atiku contesting or only Peter Obi contesting.

“I have told you that the PDP had a problem. Now, having that problem is not easy. To put yourself back in a position to win a presidential election is not an easy task.

“You are not even talking about ward elections; it is difficult. What is more paramount to us is to build the party, show what you can do at the state level, get the ones you build, and put the pieces together.

“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 is not.

“What is more paramount to us Nigerians is to build a party, see what you can do at the state level, get the votes you can get, put the pieces together, then prepare.”

Meanwhile, the PDP may have settled for Umaru as the vice-presidential candidate to Onor.

A senior member of the Wike-backed Abdulrahman Mohammed-led PDP, who spoke to The PUNCH on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to comment on the matter, disclosed that the National Working Committee and presidential candidate, Onor, had settled on Umar as the vice-presidential candidate.

When contacted, PDP National Publicity Secretary, Mohammed Jungudo, however, declined to comment on the identity of the vice-presidential candidate but confirmed to our correspondent that all the party’s National Assembly candidates for the 2027 elections had been successfully uploaded ahead of the July 11 deadline set by INEC.

He also confirmed that the details of the presidential candidate and his running mate had been uploaded, without disclosing their names.

A credible source confirmed that following deliberations and broader consultations, the PDP selected Umar as Onor’s running mate.

He stated, “We deliberated and consulted widely. After the consultations, the presidential candidate and the NWC agreed and settled on Babangida Umar, who is currently the party’s National Vice Chairman, North East, as the running mate and vice presidential candidate. His details have also been uploaded.”

In an interview with The PUNCH, Jungudo stated, “We have successfully completed the National Assembly uploads, and everything is going very well. We have concluded the National Assembly uploads. Nothing is left. We have also uploaded the presidential and vice-presidential candidates.

“As for the name of the vice-presidential candidate, if the information did not come from the national chairman or me, then it is not official.

“Regarding our preparations, you can see that uploading candidates is one of the major steps in the process. Once we are done with the governorship and state Houses of Assembly, the next step is to await the official date for the commencement of campaigns.

“Between now and then, we are working on the various committees that will spearhead the campaigns.”

Jungudo said the party was ready to win all the elections it was contesting, stressing that the ongoing legal challenge would not distract its leadership, candidates, or members.

He stated, “We are very much prepared, and not even the legal issues constitute any impediment. Everything is going smoothly, and in no distant time, we will make public the various committees that will lead the campaign and take us to victory.

“Our candidates should tighten up. They should remember what the national leader said: nobody gives you power on a platter of gold; you have to fight for it.

“They have to sit up, do everything required of them, and cooperate with all party leaders and stakeholders at every level.

“They must deploy all that is required to ensure that we win the elections, secure the majority of seats in the National Assembly and the state Houses of Assembly, as well as win two-thirds of the governorship seats across the country.

“As for the presidential election, we are keeping our strategy close to our chest. However, I can tell you that our candidates are in high spirits, and I want them to maintain that spirit.”

On the legal issues confronting the party, Jungudo said they remained optimistic because the matter had long been determined by the Supreme Court.

“Any attempt to smuggle a matter that has already been decided through the back door will not succeed.”

The Publicity Secretary of the Tanimu Turaki (SAN)-led factional Interim National Working Committee, Ini Ememobong, however, dismissed the action of the Wike-backed PDP, insisting that former President Goodluck Jonathan remained the party’s candidate.

The faction said it was not concerned about the activities of the Wike-backed PDP at Wadata Plaza, adding that history would judge those who worked to sustain the party.

He stated, “Jonathan remains the authentic candidate of the PDP. Or has he told anyone that he is not? No, of course not. He remains our presidential candidate.

“As for the INEC code and uploading, wait for the right time; the proper procedures will be followed, and the abnormalities will be corrected.

“The stress remained appealing to the incumbent Federal Government to allow multi-party democracy to thrive. When it thrives, good people and good candidates like Jonathan will be encouraged to participate.

“The truth is that a lot of people have lost faith in the political process and do not think that the process has not already been compromised. They should demand that, as a Federal Government, a multi-party democracy should be allowed to breathe.

“These other people at Wadata Plaza, we are not bothered about who they appointed or selected as the presidential candidate and running mate.

“Fortunately for us, we are busy with the task ahead. We are not interested in what they are doing. That is why you see we do not respond to what they do. We do not even know what they are doing, and we do not care.

“We only think that, in the end, the judgment of history will be fair and kind to us as people who withstood all the challenges and ensured that the PDP stood and contested as an opposition party, and not an apprenticeship of any party.

“Whether they select, vote, or whatever they intend to do is of no interest to us. What is important is their ability to revamp the party and present it for elections.”

According to the INEC timetable, the personal particulars of presidential and National Assembly candidates will be published on August 1, while those of governorship and state Houses of Assembly candidates will be published on August 29.

The commission’s timetable also provides August 22 for the withdrawal and replacement of presidential and National Assembly candidates.

Similarly, candidates for governorship and state Houses of Assembly have until September 19 for withdrawal and substitution.

Recall that the Supreme Court, in a split 3–2 judgment delivered on April 30, nullified the PDP national convention held in Ibadan on November 15 and 16, which was backed by Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and produced the Turaki-led leadership.

Following the judgment, the Board of Trustees, chaired by Adolphus Wabara, reappointed Turaki and other members to an Interim National Working Committee.

The group has since continued to operate alongside the PDP leadership recognised by INEC and associated with the Wike-led camp.

Meanwhile, the PDP faction led by Mohammed and National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu proceeded with the sale of nomination forms to 2027 aspirants.

The faction’s activities were recognised by INEC, which granted it access codes to upload candidates.