The National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ajibola Basiru, has stated that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has no authority to meddle in the affairs of the APC in Rivers State.
Basiru said the former Rivers State governor is not a member of the APC and therefore lacks the “locus to dabble into the affairs” of the ruling party.
He made the clarification in a post on the official X handle of the APC while responding to Wike’s warning that he should stay away from Rivers State politics.
“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,” he stated.
The former lawmaker explained that his position as National Secretary of the APC comes with the responsibility of safeguarding the interests of the party, its members, and its structures nationwide.
“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.
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, had earlier warned Basiru to steer clear of Rivers State politics.
Wike issued the warning during a thank-you visit to Oyigbo Local Government Area, following Basiru’s criticism of the APC National Vice Chairman, South-South, Victor Giadom, whom he accused of disrespecting Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, in an attempt to please Wike.
Basiru’s remarks came after Giadom, during Wike’s visit to Gokana Local Government Area on December 30, 2025, referred to Fubara as a “so-called governor” and claimed that the governor could not win any election in the state without Wike’s backing.
Reacting strongly, Wike cautioned Giadom to warn the APC national secretary to avoid Rivers politics.
“Tell your national secretary to leave Rivers alone. Go and ask those who have tried it before, and don’t take our support for Mr President for granted.
“You have to be careful of the statement you made,” Wike said.
The former Rivers governor also said he would escalate the matter to President Bola Tinubu.
“When Mr. President comes back, when I see the Minister of Blue Economy, I will tell them to tell him. Carry your hand to Rivers State, if your hand burns, don’t say na me burn am,” he stated.
Wike further warned individuals allegedly attracted by the reported ₦600 billion in the state treasury to stop interfering in Rivers politics, stressing that the state should be left alone.
He noted that Rivers people stood by President Bola Tinubu during the 2023 elections when others did not, insisting that political opportunists should not now attempt to take advantage of the situation.
Describing Rivers as “a no-go area,” Wike added, “Take the one you have taken and stop making unnecessary comments.
“We have taken a decision to support Mr President, and that is exactly what we are doing. When we agreed to support Tinubu in 2023, nobody forced us.
“Now, food is ready, and everybody is coming, and when it was hot, nobody was saying anything. Leave Rivers state alone.”