The National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ajibola Basiru, has called on the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to resign his appointment, accusing him of meddling in the internal affairs of the ruling party, particularly in Rivers State.
Basiru, a former Senator who represented Osun Central in the 9th National Assembly and currently serve as the administrative head and chief record-keeper of the APC, made the call in a statement on Monday, January 5, 2026. As a key member of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), he oversees party administration and coordination across the country.
Reacting to comments attributed to Wike, Basiru said his position that sitting governors should be accorded due respect as leaders of the party in their respective states was “grossly misrepresented” and attacked by the FCT Minister.
“It is shocking that such an innocuous statement can elicit such uncouth responses from no less than a member of the Federal Executive Council,” Basiru said.
He stressed that Wike is not a member of the APC and therefore lacks the standing to meddle in the party’s internal affairs.
“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 added.
The APC scribe also dismissed allegations allegedly made by Wike that he and other party leaders were scrambling for an alleged N600 billion in Rivers State, describing the claim as baseless and malicious.
“This is nothing but cheap blackmail which has become his stock-in-trade. I challenge him to prove his allegations or we may meet in court,” Basiru said, insisting that his track record is one of “unquestionable integrity.”
On what he described as veiled threats, Basiru warned that the former Rivers State governor was overplaying his political influence.
“My faith is in God, and I will not succumb to cheap threats. I was among young Nigerians who confronted military rule and fought for democracy when the likes of Wike were nowhere in sight,” he added.
Basiru further clarified that Wike’s support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu does not automatically make him a member of the APC, noting that millions of non-APC Nigerians also support the President.
“His attempt to destabilise our party in Rivers State will not be tolerated, and he cannot bring the spirit of the PDP into the APC,” he said.
Concluding the statement, Basiru said it was inappropriate for Wike to remain in the Federal Executive Council of an APC-led government while allegedly causing confusion within the party using the leverage of his office.
“The honourable thing to do is to resign his appointment as Minister,” he added.
