A sharp political dispute has erupted between the National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ajibola Basiru, and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, over alleged interference in Rivers State politics.

Basiru, in a statement issued on Monday, asked Wike to resign his ministerial appointment and concentrate on Rivers State affairs, which he described as the former governor’s “obsession.” He insisted that members of the APC National Working Committee (NWC) are duty-bound to recognise and accord due respect to sitting APC governors, including Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, who recently joined the party.

The APC scribe’s remarks followed Wike’s warning that Basiru should stay away from Rivers State political matters. Basiru said he was surprised that what he described as an “innocuous statement” could provoke what he termed “uncouth responses” from a serving member of the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

According to Basiru, Wike is not a member of the APC and therefore “lacks the locus” to interfere in the internal affairs of the ruling party. He stressed that his role as national secretary includes protecting the interests of the APC and its members nationwide, adding that his comments on Rivers APC affairs could not be regarded as undue interference.

The disagreement escalated as Basiru accused Wike, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), of making disparaging remarks about Governor Fubara and levelling unsubstantiated allegations of financial inducement against APC leaders. He challenged Wike to substantiate claims that APC officials were scrambling for a purported N600 billion in Rivers State coffers or face legal action.

“I take exception to Wike’s reference to a certain N600 billion largesse in the state for which I and other APC leaders are scrambling. This is nothing but cheap blackmail,” Basiru said, adding that Wike was “overplaying his political card.”

Basiru also criticised the APC National Vice Chairman (South), Victor Giadom, for allegedly referring to Fubara as a “so-called governor,” stressing that the office of governor must be respected regardless of political differences.

He further argued that Wike’s public support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu does not make him an APC member. “Millions of non-APC Nigerians also support Mr President, and his own is no different,” Basiru said, warning that attempts to import PDP-style politics into the APC would not be tolerated.

In response, Wike doubled down on his position during a “thank-you” visit to Oyigbo Local Government Area, warning Basiru to “leave Rivers State alone.” He alleged that some APC members had benefited from funds left in the state’s coffers and described Rivers as a “no-go area” for political meddling.

“Don’t take our support for Mr President for granted. You have to be careful with the statements you make,” Wike said, cautioning that those who previously interfered in Rivers politics had suffered consequences.

Meanwhile, political figures in Oyigbo used the visit to air grievances over development in the area. Renewed Hope Ambassador for Rivers State, Desmond Akawor, claimed development had stalled since Fubara assumed office, urging fairness in the allocation of state resources. Oyigbo Local Government Chairman, Okechukwu Agara, and federal lawmaker Felix Nweke also praised Wike, insisting that development in the area had stagnated since his exit as governor in 2023.

The war of words underscores deepening political tensions in Rivers State, as rival forces within and outside the APC jostle for influence ahead of future electoral contests.