The faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) aligned with Nyesom Wike has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Ajibola Basiru, national secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), demanding a public apology to the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The demand followed comments by Basiru on Monday in which he asked Wike to resign his appointment and focus on what he described as an “obsession” with Rivers State politics. Wike had earlier advised the APC national secretary to stay out of Rivers politics.
In a statement released on Tuesday and signed by Etim Isong, factional zonal publicity secretary of the PDP South-South, the group condemned what it described as Basiru’s “personal attack” on Wike.
The faction said the remarks were inappropriate and capable of undermining President Bola Tinubu’s administration ahead of the 2027 general election.
According to the statement, it was perplexing that Basiru, who it said “failed to produce a governor for the APC” in Osun State in the 2023 election, would question Wike’s political relevance in Rivers State.
The group also faulted Basiru’s claim that Wike’s support for Tinubu was no different from that of other non-APC supporters, describing the view as politically naïve.
“To imply that Minister Wike’s support for President Tinubu is no different from that of other non-APC supporters is a clear indicator of amateurish political judgment,” the statement said.
The faction added that Basiru’s call for Wike’s resignation portrayed him as hostile to the Tinubu administration.
“Senator Basiru’s call for the resignation of a performing minister like Nyesom Wike portrays him as an opponent of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and an enemy of the Nigerian state,” the statement read.
The group further declared that Basiru was unfit to occupy the office of APC national secretary and urged him to resign.
It also accused him of attempting to deploy divide-and-rule tactics in Rivers State politics, warning that such efforts would fail.
The faction insisted that Basiru must apologise publicly to Wike and the people of Rivers State within 48 hours.
“He has 48 hours to issue a full apology to Minister Nyesom Wike and the people of Rivers state,” the statement added.
The group warned that failure to comply could lead to Basiru being declared persona non grata in Rivers State.
It described Wike as a national leader of the PDP whose influence in Rivers politics remains decisive, noting that Governor Siminalayi Fubara recognises Wike as the political leader who built the structure that brought him to power.
The statement added that the APC could not downplay Wike’s role in Rivers politics or his influence on electoral outcomes, including the 2023 election.
“In politics, ingratitude is an offence, and biting the finger that prepares your meal is even a more unforgivable offence,” it concluded.