The National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ajibola Basiru, has asked the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to immediately resign his appointment and face his “obsession with Rivers State politics,” following a heated exchange over the leadership and affairs of the party in the state.
In a strongly worded statement on Monday, Basiru faulted what he described as an “uncouth tirade” by Wike against his person and office, insisting that his position on party supremacy and respect for sitting governors was both orthodox and constitutionally grounded within the APC.
Basiru said it was shocking that a member of the Federal Executive Council would react so aggressively to his assertion that governors remain the leaders of the party in their respective states and must be accorded due respect by party organs.
“For the avoidance of doubt, our records indicate that Minister Nyesom Wike is not a member of our party,” Basiru declared, stressing that Wike therefore lacked the locus standi to interfere in APC affairs. He added that, as National Secretary, he was duty-bound to protect the interests of the party and its structures nationwide, including Rivers State.
Dismissing allegations by Wike that he and other APC leaders were scrambling for an alleged N600 billion “largesse” in Rivers State, Basiru described the claim as “cheap blackmail” and a familiar tactic of the former Rivers governor. He challenged Wike to substantiate the allegation or be prepared to defend it in court.
The APC scribe also rejected what he termed veiled threats from the FCT minister, warning that Wike was “overplaying his political card.” Basiru said his confidence was rooted in faith and democratic struggle, recalling his role in the pro-democracy movement against military rule, at a time he claimed Wike was not politically visible.
Basiru further noted that Wike’s public support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu did not translate into APC membership, arguing that millions of Nigerians outside the party also supported the President.
“His attempt to destabilise our party in Rivers State will not be tolerated,” Basiru said, cautioning that Wike could not import “the spirit of the PDP” into the APC.
He concluded by stating that it was improper for a serving minister in an APC-led government to foment discord within the party using the influence of public office, insisting that the “honourable thing” for Wike to do was to resign from the Federal Executive Council.
The latest exchange underscores deepening political tensions in Rivers State and highlights the fragile alignment between the ruling APC and influential non-party actors within the Tinubu administration.
