Wike: INEC Has Given Recognised PDP Access Codes for 2027 Candidates

• Wike says only the INEC-recognised PDP leadership has access to upload candidates for the 2027 elections.
• FCT minister dismisses Tanimu Turaki-led group as an unrecognised faction misleading party supporters.
• He insists opposition parties must resolve internal crises before challenging the ruling party.

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has declared that the faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has already received access codes to upload its candidates for the 2027 general elections, dismissing the Tanimu Turaki-led group as an unrecognised faction misleading its supporters.

Speaking during his monthly media chat with journalists in Abuja on Thursday, Wike said the rival camp lacked the legal standing to submit candidates, insisting that only the recognised leadership of the PDP had been granted access to INEC’s nomination portal.

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Responding to questions on reports of rival groups preparing separate candidates for the 2027 elections, the FCT minister accused sections of the media of giving undue attention to individuals who, according to him, have no official recognition.

“They’re not parading; the media are the ones advertising them,” Wike said.

“I have told you there are different stages of 419. When this thing started, I told Mr President that what Turaki was doing was collecting money from people, but it would backfire.”

According to him, the true test of legitimacy is whether a political party has been granted access by INEC to upload candidates.

“INEC has given access codes to recognised political parties. Have they given him an access code? Which candidate is he going to submit?

“But they have given us access codes. We are uploading our candidates, but they are not uploading theirs,” he said.

Wike alleged that the rival camp was deliberately creating false hope among its supporters by claiming ongoing legal battles would eventually validate its candidates.

“They will continue to tell people, ‘Don’t worry, we have legal action. You will still be the candidate until the election.’ They know that is not correct,” he added.

The minister maintained that disagreement within a political party does not automatically create a faction, insisting that only the leadership recognised by INEC has the authority to speak and act for the PDP.

“The issue of faction is something you people in the media keep promoting. Somebody disagreeing with me does not constitute a faction.

“Which secretariat do they have? As a party, they don’t attend INEC meetings, yet you still call them a faction. Those authorised to speak for the PDP are the recognised leadership of the party,” he said.

Wike also dismissed speculation that former President Goodluck Jonathan could emerge as a presidential candidate through the rival camp, arguing that the recognised PDP leadership had already commenced the nomination process.

“They have given us the nomination forms to fill. I have seen my own, I have seen the president’s own. So which one are they going to give to whom?” he asked.

Speaking on the state of opposition politics ahead of the 2027 elections, Wike questioned the commitment of opposition parties to providing a credible alternative to the ruling party.

“You said opposition parties. Are they really opposition parties? Everybody is pursuing his own personal ambition. If I can’t get the ticket in PDP, I’ll go to APC. Does that make you opposition?

“If there is going to be a credible opposition to challenge the government, they must first put aside their selfish interests. That is how opposition works,” he said.

The FCT minister also criticised the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) over its legal challenge against INEC, questioning why the suit was filed at the Federal High Court in Lokoja instead of Abuja, where both the commission and the party have their headquarters.

“Where is INEC headquarters? Abuja. Where is NDC headquarters? Abuja. So what were they looking for in the Federal High Court in Lokoja?

“If you had no hidden intention, why would you take such a sensitive matter to Lokoja? Had the case been filed in Abuja, interested parties could have joined the proceedings. Instead, they tried to do it in a way nobody would notice,” he said.

Defending the judiciary’s power to review its own decisions, Wike argued that courts could set aside judgments obtained through fraud or misrepresentation.

“If a judgment is a nullity or was obtained fraudulently through misrepresentation of facts, the court can reverse it,” he said.

He, however, cautioned against attacking judges over unfavourable decisions, urging politicians to follow the appeal process instead.

“Trying to abuse the judge will not help matters. There is an appeal process. We should stop practising law on television before even reading the judgment,” he added.

Reflecting on the PDP’s leadership crisis involving Ali Modu Sheriff and Ahmed Makarfi, Wike said the party resolved its internal disputes through the courts without abandoning the platform.

“When we had problems in PDP, we fought it within the party and eventually won at the Supreme Court. We didn’t abandon the party.

“You don’t solve internal party problems by accusing the ruling party every time. Put your house in order first,” he said.

Using a football analogy, Wike said political parties must comply with electoral regulations just as football teams must field only eligible players.

“If Germany fields unregistered players against Argentina and Argentina challenges the result, will you blame Argentina? The fault lies with the team that fielded unregistered players.

“Political parties know their opponents are watching for mistakes. If you make errors, they will take advantage of them. That is politics,” he added.