Politics

By Muhammad Kabir Sani Hotoro As a staunch supporter and committed stakeholder of the All Progressives Congress (APC), it has become increasingly difficult to remain silent while the institutional health of our party is subjected to persistent strain. The recent vitriolic outbursts by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, against the APC National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru, go beyond a mere regional disagreement. They reflect a troubling attempt to import the destructive culture of political godfatherism into the APC, a culture that hollowed out and ultimately weakened the PDP. For those of us who believe firmly in party supremacy, such external overreach into the authority of the National Secretariat represents a red line that must not be crossed. The facts are clear and well documented. Senator Ajibola Basiru, acting within his constitutional mandate as National Secretary and custodian of the APC’s institutional integrity, simply called for respect for the office of an elected governor. His intervention followed derogatory references to an incumbent governor as a “so-called governor,” a rhetoric capable of eroding democratic norms and party discipline. His position was measured, responsible, and consistent with the values of the APC. The reaction from Minister Wike, however, was deeply troubling. Despite being a guest within an APC-led federal administration, he responded with crude threats, warning the National Secretary to “steer clear” of Rivers State and suggesting that he might “get burnt.” Such language typifies the brand of political intimidation and indiscipline that the APC has consistently rejected. Declaring an entire state a “no-go area” for a principal national officer of the party is an affront not only to Senator Basiru but to every card-carrying APC member across the country. The APC is founded on the principle of party supremacy. Senator Basiru’s mandate is national, not regional. As head of the National Secretariat, his responsibilities span the entire federation. Any attempt to confine his authority to a particular state or zone is a dangerous misconception that undermines the National Working Committee (NWC) and weakens party cohesion. Read Also: Wike Warns APC National Secretary Against Interfering in Rivers Affairs Basiru Warns Wike Against Destabilising APC, Says He Lacks Locus Kwankwaso Cautions Loyalists Against Betrayal in Kano Politics Support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, commendable as it may be, does not confer the right to bypass party hierarchy or intimidate its leadership. One cannot be a guest in a house and proceed to threaten the landlord. Under the leadership of the amiable National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, the NWC must rise as a united family to address this growing indiscipline. Silence at this stage is no longer an option. The National Chairman is respectfully urged to formally direct the APC structure in Rivers State to affirm unambiguous loyalty to the sitting Governor, who remains the party leader in the state by law and convention. Maintaining parallel or shadow structures to appease the ego of an outsider is a recipe for internal chaos. Beyond condemnation, the NWC should formally document and report this pattern of conduct to Mr President. For the sake of the APC’s “Renewed Hope” agenda and the long-term stability of the party, it is imperative to recommend the immediate removal of Nyesom Wike from his ministerial position. The APC cannot continue to accommodate a guest who deploys the powers of his office to blackmail and undermine the very party that provides the platform for his relevance. Nyesom Wike must be reminded, firmly and unequivocally, that the APC is not a refuge for PDP-style political rascality. If he desires to influence the internal affairs of the party, the honourable path is clear: resign his guest status, formally join the APC at the ward level, and submit to the authority of the party’s constitution, the National Chairman, and the National Working Committee. The APC National Secretary has both the right and the constitutional duty to uphold party standards in every corner of the federation. Any attempt to intimidate or “burn the hands” of the party’s leadership must be met with swift, decisive, and principled disciplinary action.

The National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ajibola Basiru, has warned the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to desist from what he described as attempts to destabilise the ruling party, insisting that the minister should resign his appointment if he cannot refrain from interfering in the party’s internal affairs. Basiru issued the warning in a strongly worded statement released on Monday in Abuja, following what he described as repeated verbal attacks by the FCT minister against his person and office. According to the APC scribe, his comments calling for respect for sitting governors whom he described as leaders of the party in their respective states were “innocuous” and should not have attracted what he termed “uncouth responses” from a serving member of the Federal Executive Council. Basiru maintained that it was incompatible for Wike to remain in the cabinet of an APC-led government while allegedly creating confusion within the party’s structures. “He cannot be in the Federal Executive Council of an APC government and be causing confusion within any organ or structure of the party at any level, using the leverage of that same office. The honourable thing to do is to resign his appointment as minister,” Basiru said. He further argued that Wike lacked the standing to meddle in the internal affairs of the APC, stressing that the minister was not a member of the party. Read Also: Wike Warns APC National Secretary Against Interfering in Rivers Affairs Beyond Betrayal: The Real Politics Behind Abba Kabir Yusuf’s Calculated Move APC Eyes Control of 30 States as Governor Yusuf Considers Defection “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,” he stated. Basiru also dismissed claims suggesting he had an interest in Rivers State funds, describing such allegations as baseless and inconsistent with his personal record. “I take strong exception to the allusion that I am interested in the N600 billion allocations of Rivers State. My records of service are those of integrity and commitment. I am not an opportunist,” he said. The APC national secretary emphasised that his responsibilities were nationwide and not limited to his home state of Osun, noting that his role required oversight of party affairs across the country. “As the National Secretary of the APC, my activities are not confined to Osun State. I am the head of the National Secretariat of the party, and I have the authority to oversee party affairs nationwide,” Basiru said. Wike’s Warning Earlier on Monday, Wike had warned Basiru to steer clear of Rivers State politics, declaring the state a “no-go area” for political interference. The warning was issued during the minister’s visit to Oyigbo Local Government Area of Rivers State, where he accused some political actors of exploiting reports of N600 billion in the state’s coffers to make reckless statements about Rivers affairs. Wike’s remarks followed comments attributed to the APC Vice Chairman (South-South), Victor Giadom, who reportedly referred to Governor Siminalayi Fubara as a “so-called governor” during visits to Khana and Gokana local government areas. Reacting to Giadom’s comments, Basiru had described them as unfortunate, insisting that the office of a governor deserved respect regardless of political differences. “The office of the governor is an exalted position, and whoever occupies it must be respected, irrespective of political differences,” Basiru had written in a Facebook post. Basiru Responds Responding to Wike’s warnings, Basiru insisted that his comments on Rivers APC affairs did not amount to interference in the governance of the state but were part of his constitutional duties as national secretary of the party. “My responsibility is to protect the interests of the APC and all its members and structures. My comments regarding the affairs of the party in Rivers State cannot be construed as undue interference,” he said. Basiru also rejected what he described as veiled threats from the FCT minister, stating that he would not be intimidated. “My faith is in God, and I will not succumb to cheap threats. Minister Wike is not God and may be overplaying his political card,” he added. He further maintained that Wike’s public support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu did not automatically translate to membership of the APC. “Millions of Nigerians who are not members of the APC also support Mr President. His support does not make him a member of our party,” Basiru said. The APC scribe warned that any attempt to destabilise the party in Rivers State would not be tolerated, adding that the APC would resist what he described as the importation of “PDP-style politics” into its structures.

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, has dismissed concerns about the future of the ruling party beyond the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, insisting that the APC has the structure, leadership depth and resilience to endure. Yilwatda made the assertion on Friday while appearing on Channels Television’s Hard Copy programme, amid growing debates over leadership succession within the party ahead of the 2027 general elections. According to him, the survival and stability of the APC are not dependent on any single individual, noting that the party existed and functioned effectively before Tinubu became president and has continued to do so under his leadership. He recalled President Tinubu’s instrumental role in the formation of the APC ahead of the 2015 general elections, as well as his leadership of the reconciliation committee established by former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2018 to address internal disputes within the party. Yilwatda said Tinubu’s intervention at the time helped to unify warring factions and significantly contributed to the party’s victory in the 2019 general elections, despite Tinubu not occupying any executive office then. Read Also: APC Eyes Control of 30 States as Governor Yusuf Considers Defection Kano Governor Yusuf’s APC Defection Postponed Kano Politics: Ganduje’s Leadership Remains APC’s Strongest Asset He added that Tinubu would remain an influential figure within the APC even after leaving office, describing him as a national leader whose political experience, network and strategic insight would continue to be valuable to the party. The APC chairman also dismissed claims that the party is losing ground in the North ahead of the 2027 polls, citing the outcome of the August 2025 by-elections as evidence of sustained support. According to him, the APC recorded victories in several northern states, including Kebbi, Kano, Kaduna, Adamawa, Kogi and Niger, losing only one House of Assembly seat during the exercise. Yilwatda said the results reflect the party’s acceptance across different regions, religious groups and ethnic communities, stressing that the APC remains the most dominant political party at the grassroots level nationwide.