2027: Nobody gives power, you must take it — Wike tells PDP candidates

Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and a prominent leader within Nigeria's Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has issued a stark call to arms for party members ahead of the 2027 general elections. Wike declared that political power is a prize to be seized, not a gift to be received, urging the PDP faithful to brace for an intense political contest.

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Nobody gives power. Power is taken. You must fight for it to take it. Nobody gives power, and nobody is ready to dash you of power. You have to struggle for it. You have to fight for it. You don’t have to be afraid.

Addressing the party's National Executive Committee meeting in Abuja, Wike stressed that opposition politics demands resilience, organization, and unwavering determination. He cautioned against any sense of entitlement or wishful thinking, asserting that the PDP must actively fight to regain power. "Nobody gives power. Power is taken. You must fight for it to take it," Wike stated, drawing from his own political experiences.

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As far as I am concerned, June 26 is when they will give the access code to political parties to upload results. Don’t worry, we are good to go. Nobody is afraid of court; courts are meant for human beings, not ghosts.

Wike encouraged aspirants not to be intimidated by pressure, arrests, or legal challenges, framing such adversity as a crucible for political success. He likened the current situation to children who have become accustomed to their father providing, suggesting the party needs a new mindset now that it is out of power. "It appears your father is sick now, nobody to provide, you think that the whole world has ended," he remarked, urging a shift from dependency to proactive engagement.

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So most of you always used to come and take when PDP was in power, like spoiled children every day, depending on what their father had provided. It appears your father is sick now, nobody to provide, you think that the whole world has ended.

The minister also challenged governorship aspirants and other candidates to focus on delivering tangible results and grassroots mobilization, rather than offering excuses. He emphasized that leadership will ultimately be judged by performance. Wike urged steadfastness in the face of intimidation, portraying the political struggle as a test of commitment and endurance. He expressed confidence that the PDP, despite current challenges, would emerge stronger from this period of intense political engagement.

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Everybody, go home, bring something, and put it on the table in 2027. If you bring the House of Representatives, you have done something. If you bring an assembly member, you have done something. But don’t come here, this is not a place of empty hands.