A fresh wave of internal conflict has erupted within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), pitting senior members of its National Working Committee (NWC) against each other over comments concerning Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, and the political influence of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike.
Basiru Condemns Giadom's 'Disrespectful' Language
The public disagreement is between the APC National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru, and the party's South-South National Vice Chairman, Hon. Victor Giadom. The rift opened after Giadom's remarks at a political event in Rivers State last week.
In a strong rebuke issued on Sunday, January 4, 2026, via his verified Facebook page, Senator Basiru faulted Giadom for referring to Governor Fubara as a "so-called governor of Rivers state." Basiru described the language as inappropriate and unbecoming of a national officer of the party.
"I find it unfortunate that a member of the NWC, who is the Vice Chairman of the South-South zone of the APC, was referring to a governor in our party as a 'so-called governor of Rivers State," Basiru stated. He emphasized that such disrespect should not be encouraged, regardless of personal allegiances.
Giadom's Assertion of Wike's Political Dominance
Basiru's criticism was a direct response to comments made by Giadom during Minister Wike's thank-you visit to Gokana Local Government Area. At the event, Giadom openly declared Wike's political control over the area, suggesting Governor Fubara's success there was dependent on the FCT Minister.
"I guarantee, on behalf of my brothers, that the Gokana people are for Wike and Tinubu and nobody will challenge Wike's influence in Gokana," Giadom had asserted. He further stated, "Gokana is a 'no-go area' for anybody, even Governor Fubara. For him to win anything in Gokana, he must pass through Wike."
His position was echoed by other APC leaders present, including the Deputy Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Dumle Maol, and the Gokana Local Government Council Chairman, Confidence Deko, who both pledged loyalty to Wike and President Bola Tinubu.
A Clash of Principles and Allegiances
Senator Basiru, in his statement, stood on the principle of respect for constituted authority. He argued that political differences should never justify the denigration of elected offices.
"Even if the governor is not in our party, you can't refer to an elected governor as a 'so-called governor' in order to please anybody," Basiru insisted. "The office of the governor is an exalted position, and whoever is occupying it must be respected, irrespective of whatever political differences you have."
Meanwhile, responding at the Gokana gathering, Minister Wike thanked the people for their support and urged unity. He highlighted that political actors from different parties in Rivers State were cooperating to support President Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda, noting collaboration between APC and PDP members for the state's development.
This public spat exposes the lingering tensions and complex allegiances within the APC in Rivers State, a key political battleground, underscoring the ongoing fallout from the fierce rivalry between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike.
