The All Progressives Congress (APC) has drawn a firm line against the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, warning that his continued involvement in Rivers State politics threatens party cohesion and could escalate tensions within the ruling party.
Senior APC figures disclosed that the party leadership may seek the intervention of President Bola Tinubu if Wike persists in actions perceived as undermining Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the party’s structure in Rivers State.
A member of the APC National Working Committee (NWC) said the party would not hesitate to ask the President to choose between party interests and the conduct of his minister if the situation worsens, stressing that Wike is not a registered member of the APC and lacks authority over its internal affairs.
The warning follows a fresh political standoff between Governor Fubara and his predecessor after Wike criticised the APC’s convention recognising sitting governors as party leaders in their respective states. During a recent visit to Rivers communities, Wike cautioned political actors—particularly APC leaders—against interfering in the state’s political affairs, claiming that Rivers politics remained firmly under his influence.
He also highlighted what he described as a unique political collaboration between the APC and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State, insisting that his political strategy had successfully aligned both parties.
However, APC leaders rejected the claims, with Vice President Kashim Shettima and other party officials insisting that Wike should confine himself to his ministerial duties and matters within the PDP, where he still claims membership.
In a strongly worded statement, APC National Secretary Ajibola Basiru urged Wike to resign his ministerial appointment if he wished to pursue partisan political interests, describing the minister’s comments as excessive and inappropriate for a member of the Federal Executive Council.
Basiru clarified that the party’s position recognising governors as state party leaders is a long-established convention and not an attempt to interfere in Rivers State politics. He dismissed allegations by Wike that APC leaders were scheming over a purported N600 billion in the state, describing the claim as unsubstantiated and defamatory.
Meanwhile, political tensions heightened after Tony Giadom publicly declared that Governor Fubara would need Wike’s endorsement to succeed politically in parts of the state. Similar sentiments were echoed by other Wike allies during the minister’s tour of local government areas.
Despite the growing controversy, political momentum appears to be shifting. The Rivers State Deputy Governor, Dr Ngozi Odu, and the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Benibo Anabraba, officially joined the APC, a development widely seen as strengthening Governor Fubara’s grip on the party in the state.
Analysts say Governor Fubara’s defection to the APC represents a turning point in Rivers politics, significantly weakening Wike’s long-standing influence. With the APC now controlling the state government, observers argue that political power is gravitating toward incumbency, leaving Wike increasingly isolated.
As the 2027 elections draw closer, the deepening rift raises critical questions about Wike’s future political relevance in Rivers State and his standing within the ruling party, particularly as the APC consolidates power across the South-South region.
