The All Progressives Congress (APC) has issued a stern warning to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, declaring that his continued interference in Rivers State politics threatens party unity and could force President Bola Tinubu to choose between his government and the party. This dramatic escalation follows the recent defection of Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, to the APC, a move that has fundamentally altered the political landscape in the oil-rich state.
APC Leadership Issues Ultimatum, Demands Wike's Resignation
A member of the APC National Working Committee (NWC) stated unequivocally that the party may ask President Tinubu to choose between them and his FCT minister if Wike persists in acting as the sole arbiter of political interests in Rivers State. The APC insists that Wike, who is not a registered member of the party, lacks any authority in its affairs. The fresh political rift was triggered by Wike's public disapproval of the APC convention that designates sitting governors as leaders of the party in their respective states.
During a "Thank You" tour to Oyigbo and Gokana Local Government Areas, Wike boasted about the unusual cooperation between the APC and PDP in Rivers State, warning outsiders to stay away. He asserted that all political office holders, including the governor, should be subject to him. In a sharp rebuttal, APC National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru, demanded Wike's resignation from the cabinet. Basiru described the minister's actions as excessive and unbecoming, clarifying that the party's convention is long-standing and not an act of meddling.
"Our records clearly show that Minister Nyesom Wike is not a member of the APC," Basiru stated. He also rejected Wike's allegation that APC leaders were scrambling for a purported N600 billion in Rivers State, challenging the minister to prove the claim in court. Basiru emphasized that Wike's support for President Tinubu does not confer APC membership, as millions of other Nigerians also supported the President without joining the party.
Key Defections Reshape Rivers Political Equation
In a significant development that underscores the shifting allegiances, the incumbent Deputy Governor of Rivers State, Dr. Ngozi Odu, and the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr. Benibo Anabraba, officially joined the APC on January 5, 2026. Dr. Odu registered at Ward 8, Unit 11 in Akabuka town, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA, while Dr. Anabraba registered at Ward 1, Unit 1, Bob-Manuel's Compound in Abonnema, Akuku Toru LGA.
After his registration, the SSG stated that the move formally affirmed his APC membership and would enable him to fully participate in party activities. He noted that this would strengthen his support for both Governor Fubara's "Rivers First" agenda and President Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda, predicting greater dividends for the people from enhanced federal-state synergy.
Meanwhile, during Wike's tour, his loyalists made bold declarations. Tony Giadom in Gokana LGA asserted that Governor Fubara would need to go through Wike to achieve any political success in the area, describing Gokana as a "no-go area" for anyone challenging Wike's influence. Similarly, the Ambassador of the Renewed Hope Family in Rivers, Desmond Akawor, told Governor Fubara to prepare to vacate Government House in 2027, claiming the people would not vote for him again.
Analysis: Fubara's Defection and Wike's Diminishing Influence
The political landscape in Rivers State has undergone a seismic shift. For nearly two years after the 2023 elections, Nyesom Wike appeared to maintain firm control from Abuja, leveraging his closeness to President Tinubu and his cabinet position to undermine his successor, Governor Fubara, while keeping the PDP weak. However, Governor Fubara's defection to the APC marks a decisive turning point.
This move delivers to the APC what Wike could not: direct control of Rivers State through a sitting governor with constitutional authority and state machinery. Consequently, Wike's strategic value to the APC has diminished sharply. Power is now gravitating towards the incumbent governor, leaving Wike at risk of becoming a peripheral actor in his home state's politics.
The defection also deepens the collapse of the PDP in Rivers State, once its strongest outpost. Ironically, Wike, who presided over this collapse through his G-5 rebellion, now finds himself politically exposed. He is too estranged from the PDP to return and insufficiently rooted in the APC to command it. Party insiders warn that if Wike continues to insist that Fubara will not secure a second term in 2027, he risks a direct confrontation with President Tinubu, who needs Rivers State for his re-election bid.
Former PDP national vice chairman, Eddy Olafeso, described Wike as perhaps the most unfortunate politician of Nigeria's Fourth Republic, noting that Governor Fubara "played politics faster" by joining the APC first, leaving his former boss in a precarious position. The battle lines are now clearly drawn, with the APC's internal structures firmly backing Governor Fubara as the party's leader in Rivers State.
