The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has declared that Senator Sandy Onor is the only recognised presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the 2027 general elections.Wike made this statement on Monday during his monthly media chat held in Abuja, where he addressed ongoing tensions within the opposition party.

According to him, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) recognises Wadata Plaza as the official national secretariat of the PDP, which in his view strengthens the legitimacy of his faction’s decisions.

The PDP has recently been divided into two main factions, both of which held parallel processes over the weekend and produced different presidential candidates.The faction backed by Wike reportedly selected Sandy Onor as its presidential flag bearer.

Meanwhile, another faction led by Tanimu Turaki endorsed former President Goodluck Jonathan, although Jonathan was not present during the endorsement and has not publicly reacted to the development.

Wike questioned the logic behind endorsing Jonathan without any formal declaration of interest from the former president, suggesting that it was improper to pick someone who has not indicated willingness to contest.He maintained that there is no real factionalisation within the PDP, insisting instead that only his camp’s position is legitimate.He further stressed that Sandy Onor remains the only valid presidential candidate of the PDP.

The FCT Minister also emphasised the importance of INEC recognising the official headquarters of political parties, arguing that Wadata Plaza is the only legitimate PDP secretariat and not any private office or informal location.

His remarks reflect the deepening internal crisis within the PDP as rival groups continue to assert authority over party structure and candidate selection processes ahead of the 2027 elections.