A fierce political battle has erupted in Rivers State as FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and APC National Secretary Ajibola Basiru clash over Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s 2027 ambition, party control, and loyalty to President Tinubu…deepening cracks within Nigeria’s ruling party.
Nigeria’s ruling party is cracking at the seams. A no-holds-barred political war has broken out in Rivers State, pitting the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, against the national leadership of the APC, as battle lines are drawn over who controls Rivers and who decides the 2027 future of Governor Siminalayi Fubara. What began as quiet tension has now exploded into open threats, resignation demands, and accusations of political sabotage.
‘Resign If You Can’t Behave’ — APC Draws the Line
The storm intensified when APC National Secretary Ajibola Basiru publicly told Wike to resign from the Federal Executive Council, accusing him of using federal power to destabilise a party he does not belong to. According to the APC, Wike has no locus to dictate Rivers APC affairs while openly opposing Fubara’s re-election.
Rivers Declared a ‘No-Go Area’
Wike fired back aggressively, branding Rivers State off-limits to APC leaders he accused of “collecting money and talking anyhow.” He warned that Rivers’ support for President Bola Tinubu should not be taken for granted, invoking past political casualties as a threat-laced reminder of his enduring influence.
APC Closes Ranks Around Fubara
In a decisive move, APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda formally affirmed Fubara as the undisputed leader of the APC in Rivers State following his defection from the PDP in December 2025. The party insists its constitution is clear: a sitting APC governor automatically leads the party structure in his state—no godfathers required.
Governors Plot to Cut Wike Down to Size
Multiple APC insiders reveal that powerful governors, led by Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, have quietly rallied behind Fubara. The strategy, sources say, is simple: weaken Wike’s grip on Rivers and neutralise his growing political defiance ahead of 2027.
‘You Can’t Import PDP Culture Here’
Basiru dismissed Wike’s threats as blackmail, declaring that APC would not tolerate PDP-style strong-arm politics. He insisted Wike’s support for Tinubu does not confer APC membership, warning that attempts to hijack party structures would be firmly resisted.
Defections, Resignations, and Open Rebellion
The crisis deepened as Rivers Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu and SSG Benibo Anabraba dumped the PDP for the APC, consolidating Fubara’s position and signalling a mass realignment that further isolates Wike.
Elders, Analysts, and Tinubu’s Shadow
Prominent Rivers elders, including Niger Delta activist Ann Kio-Briggs, have warned that blocking Fubara’s ambition amounts to a threat against Rivers people themselves. Analysts argue only Tinubu can halt the looming implosion, as two rival camps now claim loyalty to the same president while fighting each other.
What This Really Means
This is no longer just Rivers politics. It is a high-stakes struggle over power, loyalty, and survival inside Nigeria’s ruling party. With 2027 approaching fast, the question is no longer whether Rivers will explode but who will be left standing when it does.
