Tensions within Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) took a sharper turn on Monday as influential party stakeholders formally moved against the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, over what they described as his “reckless, threatening and undisciplined conduct” toward senior party officials. The development signals a deepening internal rift within the APC, with growing calls for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene decisively. The stakeholders, led by Dr. Umar D. Duhu, a prominent APC chieftain with advanced degrees in law and political studies, issued a strongly worded statement condemning Wike’s recent public remarks against the APC National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru. In the statement, the group demanded an immediate retraction and public apology from the FCT minister, warning that failure to comply could lead to formal petitions to President Tinubu and other far-reaching consequences. The controversy erupted following comments made by Wike during a “thank-you” visit to Oyigbo Local Government Area of Rivers State earlier on Monday. Speaking to supporters, the former Rivers State governor issued a stern warning to Senator Basiru, telling him to “leave Rivers State alone.” Wike went further to describe the state as a “no-go area” for political interference and implied that continued involvement could attract serious repercussions. The tone and wording of his remarks quickly drew criticism within APC circles, with many interpreting them as veiled threats unbecoming of a serving minister. Advertisements According to reports, Wike accused certain APC figures of making what he termed “reckless statements” after allegedly benefiting politically and economically from Rivers State. These remarks, stakeholders argue, crossed the line from political disagreement into intimidation and abuse of office. In response, Dr. Duhu issued a statement titled “APC Stakeholders Put Wike on Notice: Retract and Apologize Now.” The statement described Wike’s comments as “uncalled for, provocative, and a clear breach of protocol,” stressing that the APC operates under strict rules of discipline and respect for constituted authority. “The APC is not the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), where indiscipline and public verbal assaults against party leaders are often tolerated,” the statement read. “Our party has zero tolerance for vulgarism, threats, and reckless utterances, particularly from individuals occupying sensitive positions of public trust.” RECOMMENDED FOR YOU Top APC Governors Back Fubara’s Second Term Jan 6, 2026 JUST IN: Wike warns Tinubu, APC to steer clear of Rivers… Jan 5, 2026 BREAKING: APC National Secretary Fires Back, Demands Wike… Jan 5, 2026 The stakeholders emphasized that as a serving minister in an APC-led federal government, Wike has a responsibility to conduct himself with restraint and decorum. They further reminded him that, technically, he remains a member of the opposition PDP, having never formally defected to the APC. Advertisements “Minister Wike is not a card-carrying member of the APC,” the statement noted. “He therefore has no privilege, moral or constitutional, to interfere in the internal affairs of our great party or issue threats to its duly elected national officers.” Beyond demanding an apology to Senator Basiru and the APC as a whole, the stakeholders accused Wike of engaging in intimidation tactics that border on abuse of power. They warned that if he failed to retract his comments, the party would be left with no option but to escalate the matter. Among the measures outlined were the filing of formal complaints to President Tinubu, possible legal action for defamation and abuse of office, and calls for disciplinary steps against Wike in his capacity as a minister. The stakeholders said these actions would be necessary to protect the integrity, unity, and dignity of the APC. In perhaps the strongest rebuke yet, the statement described Wike as increasingly “divisive” and “overly obsessed” with Rivers State politics, arguing that his actions have begun to outweigh any perceived political value he brings to the Tinubu administration. “At this critical juncture, Wike is becoming more of a liability than an asset to President Tinubu’s re-election prospects,” the statement declared. “Rather than focusing on his assignment as FCT Minister, he appears consumed by personal political battles in Rivers State.” The stakeholders went as far as urging Wike to consider resigning from his ministerial position, advising him to concentrate fully on resolving his ongoing political feud in Rivers State without dragging the federal government or the APC into the conflict. One particularly striking line in the statement underscored the seriousness of the warning being issued. “If Wike thinks at this juncture that he is a mad dog,” the statement read, “the mad dog too should realize who is feeding him now.” The phrase was intended to remind the minister that his appointment is a privilege granted by the president, not an entitlement. The statement also accused Wike of harboring “petty jealousy and tribal sentiments,” particularly in his comments about Senator Basiru’s perceived closeness to the Minister of Blue Economy. According to the stakeholders, such insinuations are dangerous and risk inflaming ethnic and factional tensions within the party. The roots of the current dispute can be traced to earlier comments by Senator Basiru, who criticized the APC South-South Vice Chairman, Victor Giadom, for reportedly referring to Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara as a “so-called governor.” Giadom’s comment was made during one of Wike’s visits to the state and was widely seen as aligning with the former governor in his bitter political feud with Fubara. Basiru’s intervention, party insiders say, was aimed at preserving party discipline and discouraging open attacks on a sitting governor. However, it appears to have drawn the ire of Wike, who has been locked in a prolonged power struggle with his successor in Rivers State. In a separate reaction, Senator Basiru responded forcefully to Wike’s remarks, calling for the FCT minister’s resignation. Basiru insisted that Wike lacks the standing to meddle in APC affairs, especially given his continued affiliation with the PDP despite serving in an APC-led government. As of press time, Minister Wike had not issued any public response to the demands made by Dr. Duhu and the APC stakeholders. However, party sources indicate that consultations are ongoing, with plans underway for key stakeholders to brief President Tinubu directly on the matter. The unfolding drama highlights the growing discomfort within the APC over Wike’s influential role in the Tinubu administration and his continued dominance of Rivers State politics. With the 2027 general elections gradually coming into focus, many within the ruling party fear that unresolved internal conflicts could weaken its cohesion and electoral prospects if left unchecked.
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