The National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Senator Ajibola Basiru, has called for the immediate resignation of Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike, accusing him of interfering in party affairs while holding a federal appointment under an APC government.
In a strongly worded statement on Monday, Basiru responded to Wike’s weekend outburst during a visit to Oyigbo Local Government Area in Rivers State, where the minister warned him to “leave Rivers State alone” and described the state as a “no-go area.” Basiru described Wike’s tirade as “uncouth” and shocking from a Federal Executive Council member, defending his earlier criticism of APC South-South Vice Chairman Victor Giadom for referring to Governor Siminalayi Fubara as the “so-called governor.”
“For the avoidance of doubt, 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 stated, emphasizing his duty to protect APC interests nationwide. He rejected Wike’s allegation of scrambling for N600 billion in Rivers coffers as “cheap blackmail,” challenging the minister to prove it or face court action.
Basiru dismissed Wike’s veiled threats, reminding him “he is not God” and invoking his own history of fighting military rule for democracy. “My faith is in God and will not succumb to cheap threats such as the one from WIKE,” he said, adding that Wike’s support for President Bola Tinubu does not grant him APC membership or license to destabilize the party in Rivers.
Concluding, Basiru advised: “The honourable thing to do is to resign his appointment as Minister,” arguing Wike cannot serve in an APC government while causing confusion in party structures. The escalating verbal clash highlights deepening rifts within the APC in Rivers, where Wike remains influential despite not formally joining the party, amid ongoing power struggles with Governor Fubara.
Neither Wike nor the Presidency has responded to Basiru’s demand by press time, as political observers watch for potential impacts on party unity ahead of future elections.
