Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, on Wednesday advised candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party vying electoral office in 2027, to brace for a fierce fight for power, saying no one would hand them victory on a platter.
Addressing the party’s 109th National Executive Committee meeting in Abuja, Wike told aspirants to stop expecting “food is ready” politics and prepare instead for the kind of struggle required to win elections in a fiercely contested environment.
“Nobody gives power. Nobody has done it. Power is taken; if you did not do so, it’s your business.
“You must fight for it to take it. Nobody gives power, and nobody is ready to dash you power. You have to struggle for it. You have to fight for it. You don’t have to be afraid.
“Every time you complain, oh, the governor is this, what do you want him to do? To allow you to come and take power like that?
“If you’re not serious, say you are not serious to struggle for power. When you take it, you appreciate it, not when they dash you and you don’t know the meaning of it,” Wike said.
The minister said the PDP could no longer afford a culture in which members waited for political opportunities to be prepared and handed to them, warning that the next election cycle would demand resilience, organisation and results from every serious contender.
“You are used to people preparing something for you to come and eat, and you think it will always be like that. It cannot always be like that.
“A time will come when there will be challenges in life and when you will be tempted in life,” he said.
Wike, who is a national leader of the party, said his own political rise was built on struggle, not entitlement, recalling that his contest for local government chairman ended at the Supreme Court and that he also fought his way to the governorship when the incumbent was from another party.
“When I don’t see challenges, I know that something is wrong, but when I see challenges, I know success has come,” he said.
He then turned his fire on party leaders and NEC members, telling them to return to their constituencies and produce tangible political results ahead of the 2027 polls, rather than merely occupying seats at party meetings.
“Why do you bring your faith to this race? Everybody go home, go and bring something, and put it on the table in 2027. Go and bring something.
“I will bring something to the table here. Every NEC member has to bring something. If you bring a House of Representatives seat, you have done something.
“If you bring a House of Assembly member, you have done something. But don’t come here empty-handed; this is not a place for empty hands.
“This is a place where when you come, we look at the results of what you brought. That is what politics is all about,” he said.
Wike also told party members to ignore the Tanimu Turaki-led PDP faction threatening to sponsor candidates for elective offices in 2027, insisting that the real test of legitimacy would be who gets access to the Independent National Electoral Commission nomination portal.
“As far as I am concerned, June 26 is when INEC will give access codes to political parties to upload results. Don’t worry, we are good to go. Nobody is afraid; we will see who INEC will give the code to.
“It is not about going to collect money from people and saying we are in court. Nobody is afraid of the court; courts are meant for human beings, not ghosts.
“So, we are here, we are not afraid. Let them continue going to court while we continue to prepare for our own election.
“Don’t worry, stop thinking about what will happen; the worst has happened,” he said.
The FCT minister further urged party members not to be shaken by intimidation, harassment or threats of arrest, saying anyone serious about politics must be ready for pressure.
“Use me as an example. There is nothing I have not seen. I’ve seen everything, including intimidation,” he said.
