Don’t expect power on a platter of gold, fight for it – Wike tells PDP candidates

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has challenged candidates contesting the 2027 general elections on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party to prepare for a fierce struggle for political power.

Speaking at the party’s 109th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja on Wednesday, Wike declared that power is never handed over willingly but must be fought for and won.

“Nobody gives power. Nobody has done it. Power is taken. If you don’t take it, that is your business,” he said.

“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.”

The former Rivers State governor criticised what he described as a growing culture of entitlement among politicians, warning that many party members had become accustomed to “food is ready” politics.

“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,” he said.

Wike recalled his own political journey, noting that he had never achieved success without overcoming serious challenges, including legal battles that reached the Supreme Court during his quest to become a local government chairman.

“When I don’t see challenges, I know that something is wrong. But when I see challenges, I know success has come,” he stated.

The minister urged governorship candidates and other party hopefuls to be mentally prepared for intense political contests, stressing that the PDP is no longer the ruling party at the federal level and must work harder to regain power.

According to him, party members should see themselves as children whose father is ill and must rally together to restore his strength rather than depend on external support.

Wike also cautioned against introducing religious sentiments into politics and elections, insisting that success would depend on hard work and grassroots mobilisation rather than identity politics.

“Everybody go home, go and bring something, and put it on the table in 2027,” he said.

“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.”

The FCT minister further dismissed concerns over rival claims by the faction of the PDP led by Kabiru Tanimu Turaki that it would sponsor candidates for elective positions in 2027.

Wike argued that legitimacy would ultimately be determined by the Independent National Electoral Commission’s candidate nomination process.

“As far as I am concerned, June 26 is when INEC will give access codes to political parties to upload results. We will see who INEC will give the code to,” he said.

He also encouraged party members not to be intimidated by threats, harassment or possible arrests, citing his own political experiences as evidence that resilience is essential in politics.

“Use me as an example. There is nothing I have not seen. I have seen everything, including intimidation,” Wike said.

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