Sneak previews into what the political battle for Rivers State may be like in 2027 continue to play out, this time by National Secretary of ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ajibola Basiru, and opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) member and Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
In the latest episode today, Senator Basiru said Wike lacks the right to interfere in the affairs of APC in Rivers State, insisting too that the Minister should “immediately resign” from the President Bola Tinubu administration if he cannot stop interfering in the party’s affairs.
“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,” he stated.
According to him, the former governor of Rivers State is not an APC member and so lacked the “locus to dabble into the affairs” of the party and even allegedly destabilize it.
The APC scribe took the position in a post on the official X handle of the party while responding to Wike’s warning to him to steer clear of Rivers State politics.
Basiru, who may be speaking the mind of persons higher up in government, had yesterday rebuked the party’s National Vice Chairman, South-South, Victor Giadom, to stop disrespecting Rivers state governor, Siminalayi Fubara, in a bid to please Wike, whose heated,prolonged political faceoff with the governor led to President Tinubu, on 18 March, 2025, slamming a six-month emergency rule on the state and suspending the governor and all elected figures in the state.
The scribe’s comment followed Giadom’s comments on 30 December, 2025, during Wike’s visit to Gokana Local Government Area (LGA) of the oil-producing state where he referred to Fubara as a “so-called governor.”
Fubara, who with Wike, his now-estranged political godfather, had been in PDP since the governor’s election in 2023, decamped to the APC on Tuesday, 9 December, 2025.
Senator Basiru today stated: “For the avoidance of doubt, 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.”
The former lawmaker said that as APC National Secretary, he has responsibility to protect the party’s interests as well as those of all its members and structures.
To him, therefore, his comments on Fubara and APC in the South-South state were not out of order.
“Hence, my comments regarding the affairs of the APC in Rivers State cannot be an undue interference in the affairs of Rivers State. As National Secretary, my activities cannot be confined to my home state, Osun State,” he added.
Recall that Wike had warned Basiru to steer clear of the State’s politics, especially support for Gov. Fubara, stressing that interference would burn the scribe’s hand.
Wike delivered the warning while addressing supporters in Oyigbo LGA of Rivers State, declaring the state off-limits to political actors he described as outsiders.
Reacting to Basiru’s earlier remarks, the Minister warned against taking the support of Rivers leaders for President Bola Tinubu for granted.
He said: “Don’t take our support for Mr President for granted. You have to be very careful with the statements you make.”
In a strong-worded statement, the Minister declared Rivers a political “no-go area,” warning that anyone who attempts to interfere should be prepared for the consequences.
“When Mr President comes back, when I see the Minister of Blue Economy, I will tell them to tell him – if carry your hand to Rivers State, if your hand burns, don’t say na me burn am,” he warned in a matter-of-fact manner.
Wike added: “I can challenge anybody: This state is a no-go area whether you like it or not. Go and ask those who have tried it before. You open your mouth to talk about Rivers State, anything you see, take it.”
The Minister accused unnamed political figures of making “unnecessary noise” about Rivers politics and warned them to focus on their own affairs.
“So take the one you have taken. Stop making unnecessary noise,” he added.
*PHOTO CAPTION: Sen. Basiru (left) and Wike.
