By The Metro 
The Peoples Democratic Party faction backed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has reportedly settled on the party’s National Vice Chairman (North East), Babangida Umar, as the running mate to its presidential candidate, Sandy Onor, ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
A senior member of the Wike-backed Abdulrahman Mohammed-led PDP told The Punch, on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the matter, that the decision followed consultations involving the party’s National Working Committee and the presidential candidate.
“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.”
PDP National Publicity Secretary, Mohammed Jungudo, declined to disclose the identity of the vice-presidential candidate but confirmed that the party had completed the upload of its National Assembly candidates as well as the details of its presidential and vice-presidential candidates ahead of the deadline set by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
He said the party had concluded the upload process and was now focusing on preparations for the next stages of the election, including the constitution of campaign committees.
Jungudo also expressed confidence that the party’s ongoing legal issues would not affect its preparations for the 2027 elections, insisting members and candidates remained focused on the campaigns ahead.
Meanwhile, Wike expressed doubts about the PDP’s ability to win the 2027 presidential election unless it first rebuilt its internal structures and resolved its lingering internal challenges.
He said rebuilding the party from the grassroots remained more important than focusing on the presidential contest, arguing that no political party could expect to win a national election without a functional structure across the country.
“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.”