On Monday, a fresh round of political drama erupted between the All Progressives Congress, APC, and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike over Rivers State politics.
The development followed sharp exchanges involving Wike, APC National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru, and the party’s National Vice Chairman (South-South), Chief Victor Giadom.
The controversy centres on Governor Siminalayi Fubara, who recently moved to the All Progressives Congress from the Peoples Democratic Party.
DAILY POST reports that Fubara has since his defection to the APC appeared to have endeared himself to the party’s hierarchy.
Some of the APC hierarchy have been praising his projects across the state, a development which didn’t sit well with Wike.
The latest twist in the rivalry between Wike and Fubara came after Chief Victor Giadom referred to Governor Fubara as a “so-called Governor” at a political gathering in Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Giadom, who is the APC National Vice Chairman for the South-South zone, also declared Gokana a “no-go area” for politicians, insisting that anyone seeking electoral success in the area must first obtain the approval of the former Rivers State governor.
The comments immediately generated outrage across political circles, with many viewing them as disrespectful to the office of the governor and inflammatory in the already volatile Rivers political climate.
Basiru rebukes Gaidom
Reacting to Giadom’s remarks, APC National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru, publicly rebuked the South-South vice chairman, describing his comments as “unfortunate” and unbecoming of a member of the party’s National Working Committee, NWC.
Basiru stressed that regardless of political allegiances or internal disagreements, the office of a sitting governor must be respected.
“I find it unfortunate that a member of the NWC… was referring to a governor as a ‘so-called governor of Rivers State,’” Basiru said.
“No matter what his allegiances are, it is unbecoming of somebody holding such a sensitive position.”
Basiru added that even governors from opposition parties deserved respect, noting that the governorship office is “an exalted position” that should not be diminished for political convenience.
Wike fires warning shot at Basiru
However, Basiru’s intervention did not sit well with Wike.
The current FCT minister, although of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, issued a stern warning to the APC scribe, cautioning him to stay away from Rivers State politics.
Wike spoke on Monday during a thank-you visit to Oyigbo Local Government Area, where he accused unnamed political actors of exploiting the alleged N600 billion left in Rivers State’s coffers to make reckless and provocative statements.
The Minister specifically referenced comments attributed to Giadom, reiterating claims that Governor Fubara could not secure a second term without Wike’s backing, and warned Basiru against making what he described as careless remarks about Rivers affairs.
Basiru hits back, calls for Wike’s resignation
To the very shock of many, the war of words escalated further when Basiru responded with a strongly worded statement from Abuja, accusing Wike of attempting to destabilise the APC.
Basiru said he was shocked that his call for respect for sitting governors could provoke what he described as “uncouth responses” from a serving member of the Federal Executive Council.
He insisted that it was incompatible for Wike to remain in the cabinet of an APC-led government while allegedly fomenting internal crisis within the party.
“He cannot be in the Federal Executive Council of an APC Government and be causing confusion within any organ or structure of the Party,” Basiru stated, adding that “the honourable thing to do is to resign his appointment as Minister.”
The APC National Secretary further argued that Wike lacked the authority to interfere in the party’s internal affairs, stressing that party records did not list the FCT minister as a registered APC member.
“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 declared.
Cracks within APC
Reacting to the development, a senior official of the All Progressives Congress, APC, who spoke to DAILY POST on condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the matter, described the public exchange as “deeply embarrassing.”
He warned that the continued war of words could undermine the APC’s credibility ahead of the 2027 general election.
According to the official, internal disagreements should be handled through established party mechanisms rather than through media statements that project disunity and weaken the party’s moral authority.
He further cautioned that the oil rich Niger Delta state remains politically strategic to the APC, adding that unresolved internal conflicts could cost the party dearly if allowed to fester.
The party chieftain urged all sides to prioritise party unity over personal influence and ambition.
“I must state categorically that the fiery exchange is embarrassing and unnecessary. And it is not doing the APC any good rather a serious damage to the image of the party,” the senior APC official said.
“If this kind of thing continues unchecked, it will not only weaken our unity but also cost the party politically, especially in a swing state like Rivers,” he added.
APC must urgently de-escalate – Analyst
Speaking in an interview with DAILY POST, Nduka Odo, a public affairs analyst and communication expert at Peaceland University, Enugu, described the unfolding crisis as a classic example of elite power struggle spilling into the public domain.
According to him, the controversy reflects deeper structural weaknesses in party discipline and internal conflict-resolution mechanisms.
Odo argued that the language used by key actors in the dispute is particularly troubling.
“When senior figures resort to open confrontation, it signals a breakdown of internal communication and discipline, and it inevitably shifts public attention away from governance to personal rivalries.
“Expressions that question the legitimacy of a sitting governor or issue public ultimatums are dangerous because they are designed to provoke rather than resolve conflict. Such language escalates tension and makes reconciliation more difficult.
“Going forward, the APC must urgently de-escalate this conflict by pulling discussions away from the media and reasserting its internal conflict-resolution mechanisms.
“If the party fails to do so, it risks deepening internal divisions and presenting itself to the public as disorganised and incapable of managing its own affairs,” he cautioned.