On Monday, a fresh round of political drama erupted between the All Progressives Congress, APC, and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike over Rivers State politics.

The development followed sharp exchanges involving Wike, APC National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru, and the party’s National Vice Chairman (South-South), Chief Victor Giadom.

The controversy centres on Governor Siminalayi Fubara, who recently moved to the All Progressives Congress from the Peoples Democratic Party.

DAILY POST reports that Fubara has since his defection to the APC appeared to have endeared himself to the party’s hierarchy.

Some of the APC hierarchy have been praising his projects across the state, a development which didn’t sit well with Wike.

The latest twist in the rivalry between Wike and Fubara came after Chief Victor Giadom referred to Governor Fubara as a “so-called Governor” at a political gathering in Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State.

Giadom, who is the APC National Vice Chairman for the South-South zone, also declared Gokana a “no-go area” for politicians, insisting that anyone seeking electoral success in the area must first obtain the approval of the former Rivers State governor.

The comments immediately generated outrage across political circles, with many viewing them as disrespectful to the office of the governor and inflammatory in the already volatile Rivers political climate.

Basiru rebukes Gaidom

Reacting to Giadom’s remarks, APC National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru, publicly rebuked the South-South vice chairman, describing his comments as “unfortunate” and unbecoming of a member of the party’s National Working Committee, NWC.

Basiru stressed that regardless of political allegiances or internal disagreements, the office of a sitting governor must be respected.

“I find it unfortunate that a member of the NWC… was referring to a governor as a ‘so-called governor of Rivers State,’” Basiru said.

“No matter what his allegiances are, it is unbecoming of somebody holding such a sensitive position.”

Basiru added that even governors from opposition parties deserved respect, noting that the governorship office is “an exalted position” that should not be diminished for political convenience.

Wike fires warning shot at Basiru

However, Basiru’s intervention did not sit well with Wike.

The current FCT minister, although of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, issued a stern warning to the APC scribe, cautioning him to stay away from Rivers State politics.

Wike spoke on Monday during a thank-you visit to Oyigbo Local Government Area, where he accused unnamed political actors of exploiting the alleged N600 billion left in Rivers State’s coffers to make reckless and provocative statements.

The Minister specifically referenced comments attributed to Giadom, reiterating claims that Governor Fubara could not secure a second term without Wike’s backing, and warned Basiru against making what he described as careless remarks about Rivers affairs.

Basiru hits back, calls for Wike’s resignation

To the very shock of many, the war of words escalated further when Basiru responded with a strongly worded statement from Abuja, accusing Wike of attempting to destabilise the APC.

Basiru said he was shocked that his call for respect for sitting governors could provoke what he described as “uncouth responses” from a serving member of the Federal Executive Council.

He insisted that it was incompatible for Wike to remain in the cabinet of an APC-led government while allegedly fomenting internal crisis within the party.

“He cannot be in the Federal Executive Council of an APC Government and be causing confusion within any organ or structure of the Party,” Basiru stated, adding that “the honourable thing to do is to resign his appointment as Minister.”

The APC National Secretary further argued that Wike lacked the authority to interfere in the party’s internal affairs, stressing that party records did not list the FCT minister as a registered APC member.

“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,” Basiru declared.

Cracks within APC

Reacting to the development, a senior official of the All Progressives Congress, APC, who spoke to DAILY POST on condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the matter, described the public exchange as “deeply embarrassing.”

He warned that the continued war of words could undermine the APC’s credibility ahead of the 2027 general election.

According to the official, internal disagreements should be handled through established party mechanisms rather than through media statements that project disunity and weaken the party’s moral authority.

He further cautioned that the oil rich Niger Delta state remains politically strategic to the APC