2027: Wike’s ally, Onor, joins presidential race to challenge Tinubu

Senator Sandy Onor, a key ally of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has obtained the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) expression of interest and nomination forms to contest the 2027 presidential election.

The development adds a new layer to the internal dynamics of the PDP, particularly amid Wike’s open support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid.

Recall that President Bola Tinubu had already obtained his forms to seek re-election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Speaking with journalists in Abuja on Saturday after picking the forms, the former federal lawmaker said his decision was driven by sustained pressure from party stakeholders nationwide.

“Gentlemen of the press, I have made the point earlier. Upon pressure from the leadership and full support of this party, I have come and picked the expression of interest form and the nomination form in order to contest for the ticket for the presidency of this country on the platform of this great party.

“I’m sure you have witnessed the fact that I have accomplished a lot, and the rest of the process, you know, forms will be filled, and we will head into the nomination process proper,” he said.

Addressing concerns over Wike’s backing of Tinubu, Onor drew a distinction between personal political choices and the party’s collective direction.

“Barrister Nyesom Wike is indisputably a leader of the party, but he is not the party. If Nyesom Wike does not support President Tinubu, Nigerians will condemn him for lacking integrity and probity. So, he has a right to choose to support President Tinubu, and he has made that right open and obvious.

“But the fact that he, as an individual, and even as a leader of the party, has chosen to support the President does not mean that that is the direction this party will go.

“This party has chosen to have a presidential candidate who will fight for election, as any other person would fight for it,” he said.

Projecting confidence in his ambition, Onor said he is prepared to lead with courage and responsibility if given the mandate.

“And if, by the grace of God, I am democratically chosen to take charge and lead this party, I will do so courageously, with capacity and a huge sense of responsibility,” he said.

“Let Nigerians choose what they want and who they want. I believe at the end of the day they will choose us. They are yearning for PDP-type governance, and that, by the grace of God, will come again,” he added.