The National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ajibola Basiru, has launched a blistering attack on the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, demanding that he either resign his ministerial appointment or stop interfering in the internal affairs of the ruling party.
In a statement issued on Monday, January 5, 2026, Basiru accused Wike of overstepping his bounds and dabbling into APC matters despite not being a registered member of the party. The APC scribe described Wike’s recent comments and attacks on his person and office as irresponsible, uncouth, and unbecoming of a member of the Federal Executive Council.
Basiru said his attention was drawn to what he termed a “tirade” by the FCT Minister following his earlier position that all members of the APC National Working Committee (NWC) must accord sitting governors due respect, as governors remain the leaders of the party in their respective states. He expressed shock that such statement could provoke what he described as an unguarded reaction from Wike.“For the avoidance of doubt, our records indicate clearly that Minister Nyesom Wike is not a member of our great party, the APC,” Basiru stated. “He therefore lacks the locus to interfere in the affairs of our party in any form.”
The APC National Secretary stressed that, by virtue of his office, he is constitutionally empowered to protect the interests of the party, its members, and its structures across the country. He rejected any suggestion that his comments on developments within the APC in Rivers State amounted to undue interference, noting that his responsibilities as National Secretary extend beyond his home state of Osun.“My duties are national in scope and cannot be confined to one state,” Basiru said, insisting that his intervention was strictly in line with party rules and the need to safeguard internal democracy and respect for constituted authority within the APC.
Basiru also took strong exception to Wike’s reference to an alleged N600 billion “largesse” in Rivers State, which the minister reportedly claimed APC leaders were scrambling for. He described the allegation as “cheap blackmail” and a baseless attempt to smear his reputation.“My background and track record speak clearly of unquestionable integrity,” Basiru said. “I challenge Nyesom Wike to provide proof of this allegation or be prepared to substantiate it in a court of law.”
Responding to what he described as veiled threats from the FCT Minister, the APC chieftain warned Wike against overestimating his political influence. He said intimidation would not deter him from speaking the truth or carrying out his constitutional duties.“Wike is not God and should stop overplaying his political cards,” Basiru declared. “My faith is in God, not in cheap political threats. I was among young Nigerians who stood up to confront military rule and fought for democracy at a time when people like Wike were nowhere to be found.”
Basiru further clarified that Wike’s public support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu does not automatically translate into membership of the APC. According to him, millions of Nigerians who are not members of the ruling party also support the President, and Wike’s case is no different.“Supporting President Tinubu does not make Wike a member of the APC,” he said. “His attempt to import the politics and culture of the PDP into the APC, particularly in Rivers State, will not be tolerated.”The APC National Secretary accused Wike of attempting to destabilise the party in Rivers State using the leverage of his position as an FCT Minister in an APC-led federal government. He warned that such conduct undermines party cohesion and violates the principles of internal discipline.
In conclusion, Basiru said it was morally and politically wrong for Wike to remain in the Federal Executive Council of an APC government while allegedly causing confusion within the party’s structures at various levels.“The honourable thing for him to do is simple,” Basiru concluded. “He should resign his appointment as Minister if he insists on interfering in the affairs of the APC.”
