The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has said that credibility as an opposition force in Nigeria must be earned through electoral victories rather than political rhetoric or coalition building.
Wike, who also identifies as a factional leader within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), made the statement on Thursday during a courtesy visit to the party’s national secretariat in Abuja.
His comments come amid renewed political realignments and early manoeuvring ahead of the 2027 general elections.
According to him, no political group can legitimately claim to be leading the opposition without demonstrating success at the polls.
He argued that electoral performance remains the true measure of political relevance in a democratic system.
“You cannot become an opposition party without winning an election. Those who say they are leading the opposition have not contested any election successfully,” Wike said.
During the visit, Wike also pledged loyalty to the newly elected National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP, saying his presence was meant to demonstrate solidarity and encourage unity within the party.
He acknowledged that the PDP had faced internal challenges in recent times but said the party was gradually recovering from its crisis.
He stressed that rebuilding the party would require discipline, sacrifice, and collective effort from its leadership and members.
“Yes, we have crisis, and we have almost come out of it. It will require hard work and sacrifice to move the party forward,” he said.
Wike urged the new leadership of the party to prioritise reconciliation efforts, especially by reaching out to members who had left the party, noting that many of them still maintain interest in the PDP.
He also cautioned against distractions from ongoing legal disputes involving the party, expressing confidence that the PDP would overcome its challenges if it remained focused and united.
“We have defeated them at the
Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal. The same God will see us through. Stay focused and work as a team,” he added.
In his response, the PDP National Chairman, Abdulrahman Mohammed, assured that the new National Working Committee would work to reposition the party and restore public confidence ahead of the 2027 elections.
He said the PDP remained a strong political platform capable of providing national leadership.
Also speaking, the National Secretary of the party, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, commended Wike’s continued support, describing his visit as a morale booster for the party leadership.
The visit is seen as part of ongoing efforts to stabilise the PDP and strengthen internal unity as political activities intensify ahead of the next general elections.
