The All Progressives Congress (APC) has confirmed that it is actively engaging the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, in ongoing efforts to resolve the protracted political crisis in Rivers State, even as it clarified that the former Rivers governor is not a registered member of the ruling party.
The party’s National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru, made the disclosure on Thursday while speaking on TVC’s Beyond The Headlines, stressing that Wike’s political influence and open support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu made his involvement in resolving the Rivers impasse both necessary and strategic.
“Of course, as you know, Wike is an avowed supporter of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, even though not a member of the political party,” Basiru said. “So, as somebody who is interested in the success of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, 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.”
Basiru explained that the APC was pursuing discreet consultations to restore stability in Rivers State, noting that the party would not disclose every step being taken behind the scenes.
“Quiet consultations are ongoing to address the situation,” he added. “Not every measure being taken will be made public through the media.”
According to him, the party is confident that the crisis will be resolved peacefully, assuring that the outcome would not produce “winners or losers,” while hinting that more details would emerge in the coming days.
The Rivers political crisis escalated following the defection of Governor Siminalayi Fubara from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC on December 9, 2025, after months of political tension with Wike, his predecessor, over control of the state’s political structure.
Fubara’s defection, widely viewed by analysts as a major political realignment ahead of the 2027 general elections, came after several members of the Rivers State House of Assembly had earlier defected to the APC.
In response, Wike openly criticised Fubara, accusing him of breaching earlier political agreements and questioning his future within the ruling party. The FCT Minister also argued that Fubara lacked genuine grassroots support in the APC, claiming the governor was “being misadvised” and stood little chance of securing a second term in 2027.
Despite the governor’s switch to the APC, tensions persisted within the APC-controlled Rivers State House of Assembly, which on January 8 initiated impeachment proceedings against Fubara—an action widely believed to have been driven by lawmakers loyal to Wike. The impeachment move has since stalled due to ongoing court cases.
Addressing claims that the APC is dominated by political elites, Basiru dismissed the assertion, insisting that the ruling party remains firmly rooted in the grassroots.
“The APC is a very serious political party. We are a mass-based organization, and going by the figures from our mass-based e-registration system, we are sure that APC is the party to beat in all elections,” he said.
“We are loved by the Nigerian people, and they are trooping out to join the APC. We have made tremendous progress in the registration of new members that we have embarked upon. We are very comfortable that we are not an elite organization.”
Basiru further said the party was committed to strengthening its grassroots structures and mobilising Nigerians around its socio-democratic philosophy.
“Our tradition is socio-democratic, pro-people, and we are working to strengthen our party. We are mobilizing, conscientizing, and showing Nigerians why the pan-Nigerian political party, the APC, is the party to be in,” he said.
“We are resilient and persistent in ensuring that we pass our message and get people to join our political party. As I speak now, the mass of Nigerian people are joining our party in large numbers.”
