Tensions have escalated within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) over Rivers State politics, with National Secretary Senator Ajibola Basiru calling on Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to resign from his federal appointment.
Basiru accused Wike of using his ministerial position to interfere in the party’s internal affairs and to destabilise the APC in the South-south region.
In a statement issued on Monday, Basiru said his attention had been drawn to what he described as “the tirade of the Minister of the FCT against my person and my office as the National Secretary of the APC,” following his position that all members of the National Working Committee (NWC) must accord sitting governors due respect as the leaders of the party in their states.
He expressed surprise that what he termed an “innocuous statement” could provoke “uncouth responses from no less than a member of the Federal Executive Council,” stressing that such conduct was unbecoming of a serving minister.
“Our records indicate that Minister Nyesom Wike is not a member of our Party APC. So, he lacks the locus to dabble into the affairs of our Party,” Basiru said.
He noted that his responsibilities as National Secretary include protecting the interests of the party and its structures nationwide, insisting that his comments on developments in Rivers State “cannot be an undue interference in the affairs of Rivers State.”
The current feud is rooted in a series of prior tensions within the APC in Rivers State. Late last year, APC Vice Chairman (South-South), Victor Giadom, reportedly referred to Governor Siminalayi Fubara as the “so-called governor” during Wike’s visit to the state, sparking outrage among party leaders.
Basiru condemned the remark, emphasising that the office of the governor must be respected regardless of political differences.
Wike responded by warning that Rivers State was a “no-go area” for political interference, cautioning party leaders against making provocative statements.
During a visit to Oyigbo Local Government Area of the state, the minister said, “Let me warn those who come to Rivers State, because you have heard that we have N600bn, you come here, you collect, and you open your mouth to talk anyhow… This state is a no-go area. Take the one you have taken, stop making unnecessary comments.”
The ₦600 billion figure has also been a point of contention. Wike had alleged that some APC leaders were attempting to benefit from the funds, prompting Basiru to dismiss the claim as “nothing but cheap blackmail which has become his stock-in-trade.”
He challenged the minister to substantiate the allegation or risk facing legal action.
Basiru also addressed what he described as veiled threats from Wike, asserting: “My faith is in God and will not succumb to cheap threats such as the one from Wike.”
He further stressed that Wike’s support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu did not automatically confer party membership, noting that “millions of non-APC Nigerians also support Mr President, and his own is no different.”
The National Secretary emphasised that it is unacceptable for a member of the Federal Executive Council in an APC-led government to create confusion within party structures while leveraging the authority of the same office.
He said the honourable option available to Wike, if he wished to continue engaging in partisan battles within the party, was to resign and fully focus on his political interests in Rivers State.
