The All Progressives Congress (APC) has confirmed that it is actively engaging the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, in efforts to resolve the ongoing political crisis in Rivers State, despite his not being a registered member of the party.
The disclosure was made by the APC National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru, on Thursday, January 29, 2026, during an interview on TVC News’ Beyond The Headlines programme.
Rivers State has been embroiled in a protracted political dispute centred on tensions between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor, Wike, over control of the state’s political structure.
The crisis has persisted for more than a year and has included public disagreements and legal challenges.
Governor Fubara defected from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC on December 9, 2025, in a major realignment ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The switch followed earlier defections of several Rivers State House of Assembly members to the APC. In response, Wike criticised the governor, alleging broken agreements and questioning his electoral prospects.
Basiru said the APC’s engagement with Wike is part of efforts to achieve an “amicable resolution” of the crisis, stressing that Rivers State is critical to the success of President Bola Tinubu’s administration and broader party objectives.
He described Wike as an “avowed supporter” of President Tinubu, notwithstanding his lack of formal party membership.
The National Secretary acknowledged that not all measures taken in the reconciliation process will be publicised, noting that some consultations are confidential. He expressed confidence that the crisis will be resolved in a manner that produces no “winners or losers” and said details of the outcome would be communicated in due course.
Basiru also addressed criticism that the APC is dominated by political elites, asserting that the party is a mass‑based organisation with growing grassroots support, and rejecting claims that its membership is limited to governors and heavyweight politicians.
Basiru said: “Of course, as you know, Wike is an avowed supporter of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, even though he is not a member of the political party …
Rivers State is critical to that success, and of course, definitely he will be engaged, and he’s been engaged on an amicable resolution in the state as expected.”
The APC’s engagement with Wike underscores the party’s strategic efforts to stabilise internal political disputes and consolidate support ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Rivers State, a key oil‑producing and populous state, is seen as politically significant, and resolving the crisis is viewed as essential to maintaining party unity and electoral competitiveness in the region.
APC National Secretary Senator Ajibola Basiru’s confirmation of active engagement with Minister Nyesom Wike represents a concerted effort by the ruling party to address the political crisis in Rivers State through inclusive dialogue and negotiation.
The process aims to achieve an amicable settlement without public confrontation or fragmentation ahead of impending national elections.
