The political landscape in Nigeria witnessed a fresh escalation on Tuesday as a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) aligned with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, issued a stern 48-hour ultimatum to the National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ajibola Basiru. The demand is for a public apology over comments deemed a personal attack on Wike.
Ultimatum and Accusations Fly
The crisis was triggered on Monday when Senator Basiru called for Wike's resignation from the FCT ministerial position, advising him to focus on his perceived obsession with Rivers State politics. This came after Wike himself had told the APC scribe to stay out of Rivers affairs.
In a swift and forceful response on Tuesday, the Wike-led PDP South-South faction, through its Zonal Publicity Secretary Etim Isong, condemned Basiru's statement. The faction described the remarks as inappropriate and a potential threat to the administration of President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The statement questioned Basiru's moral standing, pointing out his failure to deliver Osun State for the APC in the 2023 gubernatorial election. It argued that for him to question Wike's political relevance in Rivers was perplexing. The faction further accused Basiru of employing divide-and-rule tactics in Rivers State and warned that such strategies would fail.
"He has 48 hours to issue a full apology to Minister Nyesom Wike and the people of Rivers State," the statement declared, warning that failure to comply could lead to Basiru being declared persona non grata in the state. The group also demanded Basiru's resignation as APC National Secretary, labelling him an opponent of President Tinubu.
Mainstream PDP Tells APC to Manage Its Creation
In a separate but related development, the mainstream PDP, through its National Publicity Secretary Ini Ememobong, stated that the APC has no legitimate grounds to complain about Wike's conduct. The party argued that the ruling party must bear the full consequences of its decision to politically engage the former Rivers governor.
Ememobong clarified that Wike is no longer a member of the PDP, having been expelled alongside his supporters. He stated that the APC knowingly benefited from Wike's actions when it suited them and therefore lacks the moral authority to disown him now that the relationship appears strained.
"The law does not allow you to benefit from a wrong you created, nor can you complain of a voluntary injury," Ememobong said. "You cannot complain about an act you willingly undertook. So they should manage the situation they have created."
He urged Basiru not to drag the PDP into the controversy, noting that the APC was jubilant when Wike's actions favoured them. Ememobong emphasized that the APC alone reaped the benefits and must now deal with any resulting fallout.
Wike's Defiant Stance and Reconciliation Pledge
Amid the crossfire, Minister Nyesom Wike continued his thank-you tour in Rivers State, arriving at the Akuku-Toru Local Government Area. While he adopted a softer tone regarding the APC national leadership, he remained defiant in his political battle with Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
Addressing supporters in Abonnema, Wike described the political alignment in Rivers as a unique coalition working for President Tinubu's re-election. He assured his political structure was intact and ready for future contests, vowing, "The mistake we made in 2023 will not be repeated, you can take that to the bank."
Later, he reaffirmed his loyalty to President Tinubu in a post on the social media platform X, asserting that his political machinery in Rivers remains fully committed to the President's 2027 ambition.
In another significant political development, former President Goodluck Jonathan has pledged deeper involvement in PDP affairs. This assurance was given to a delegation of the party's new National Working Committee (NWC), led by Chairman Kabiru Turaki, during a visit to his Abuja residence.
Turaki, who spoke after the closed-door meeting on Tuesday, said Jonathan reaffirmed his status as a card-carrying member and promised to be more active. This move is seen as a boost for the PDP as it prepares for upcoming elections and seeks to resolve internal disputes.
The former president was briefed on the party's challenges and legal battles, with Turaki expressing confidence that reconciliation would be pursued once court cases are resolved. "We need all hands on deck for the battles ahead," Turaki stated.
