APC Internal Rift Deepens: National Secretary Demands Wike’s Resignation Over Rivers State ‘Obsession’
An escalating war of words between senior figures in Nigeria’s ruling party signals a significant internal crisis, with implications for governance and political stability.
Abuja, Nigeria – The simmering tensions within Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) have erupted into a public and acrimonious confrontation, pitting the party’s National Secretary against a powerful minister who is not a formal member of the party. Ajibola Basiru, the APC National Secretary, has called for the immediate resignation of Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), accusing him of destabilizing the party and overstepping his bounds.
The Core of the Conflict: Party Sovereignty vs. External Influence
The dispute, as detailed in a statement from Senator Basiru, centers on a fundamental question of political boundaries. Basiru’s demand stems from Wike’s recent comments telling the APC Secretary to stay out of Rivers State politics. In a forceful rebuttal, Basiru framed Wike—a former Governor of Rivers State and a prominent member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)—as an outsider meddling in APC affairs.
“To my knowledge, he is not a member of the APC,” Basiru stated. “I don’t see what authority or audacity he has to meddle in APC matters.” This statement cuts to the heart of a unique and increasingly contentious feature of President Bola Tinubu’s administration: the inclusion of powerful opposition figures in key cabinet roles, and the political complications that ensue.
A Challenge to Party Hierarchy and Discipline
Beyond the personal spat, Basiru’s statement serves as a stark reminder of party protocol. He emphasized that all members of the APC’s National Working Committee (NWC) must respect sitting governors as the party’s leaders in their states. This can be interpreted as a defense of Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, who has been locked in a prolonged political battle with his predecessor, Wike.
Basiru vehemently denied that his stance was motivated by a desire for patronage, specifically refuting any interest in “Rivers State’s N600 billion allocations.” Instead, he positioned his actions as a defense of the APC’s institutional integrity against an external force attempting to “import the spirit of the PDP into the APC.”
The Broader Implications: A Government at Odds with Itself?
This public clash reveals the fragile nature of the political coalition underpinning the Tinubu government. Wike, despite being a PDP stalwart, was a crucial ally in the 2023 elections and was rewarded with the high-profile FCT portfolio. However, his continued deep involvement in Rivers State politics—and his perceived interference in APC internal matters—is creating severe friction with the party’s own bureaucracy.
Basiru’s ultimatum presents a direct challenge: “He cannot serve in the Federal Executive Council of an APC-led government and simultaneously use the influence of that office to sow confusion within any organ or structure of the party… The honorable course of action is for him to resign.” This frames the issue as one of conflicting loyalties and the improper use of executive power for factional political ends.
What This Means for Nigerian Politics
Analysts see this rift as more than a mere personality clash. It highlights several critical issues:
1. The Blurring of Party Lines: The practice of appointing opposition members to government has created ambiguous loyalties, weakening party discipline and creating parallel centers of power.
2. The Sovereignty of Party Institutions: Basiru’s stand is a fight for the relevance and authority of the APC’s national secretariat against the influence of powerful individuals who operate from positions within the government but outside the party’s formal structure.
3. The Stability of the Rivers State Government: This exchange is a proxy war in the ongoing crisis in Rivers State, suggesting that the national leadership of the APC may be aligning against Wike’s influence in favor of the sitting APC governor.
The public nature of the conflict makes a quiet resolution difficult. It forces President Tinubu into a delicate position of mediating between a key cabinet minister and the official machinery of his own party. The outcome will signal whether party discipline or pragmatic political alliances hold greater weight in the current administration.
Source & Attribution: This report is based on the original statement issued by APC National Secretary Ajibola Basiru, as reported by The Syndicate. Analysis and context are provided independently.