January 8, 2026 | Politics | SUNTV Global Channel
The internal crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress (APC) has escalated, as a coalition of party leaders has formally called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to sanction — and potentially remove — the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, over what they described as persistent anti-party activities and statements capable of undermining national unity.
The demand was contained in a strongly worded memo addressed to President Tinubu through the National Chairman of the APC, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, and was submitted amid rising tensions within the ruling party over political developments in Rivers State.
The letter coincided with preparations for a planned rally at the APC National Secretariat in Abuja, which organisers described as a peaceful demonstration by concerned party loyalists determined to defend the integrity of the ruling party.
The memo was jointly signed by Dr. Emeka Okoro, a South-East APC chieftain; Alhaji Ibrahim Yusuf, APC National Youth Vanguard leader; Dr. Adekunle Balogun, National Coordinator of the Tinubu/Shettima Movement; and Mallam Abdulkareem Isiaka, who signed on behalf of the coalition as spokesperson.
According to the group, the protest and formal petition were motivated by growing concerns over what they called repeated acts of misconduct by Wike, who was appointed into the Tinubu administration despite being a prominent member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The APC leaders accused the former Rivers State governor of persistently attacking the leadership of the APC while serving in an APC-led federal government, describing his conduct as inappropriate and destabilising.
They specifically referenced comments allegedly made by Wike on January 5, 2026, during a “thank-you tour” in Oyigbo Local Government Area of Rivers State, where he was said to have openly criticised the APC National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru.
According to the memo, Wike accused Basiru of interfering in Rivers State politics for selfish reasons and warned that those meddling in the state’s affairs would “get their fingers burnt.”
The coalition described the remarks as an affront to the National Working Committee (NWC) of the APC and an attempt by Wike to assert dominance over party structures in Rivers State, despite not being a registered member of the ruling party.
Beyond his remarks against party officials, the APC leaders also accused Wike of actively undermining the APC-led government in Rivers State, particularly through sustained public criticism of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
They alleged that the FCT Minister has repeatedly ridiculed the governor’s leadership, described his emergence as a “mistake,” and openly suggested that the situation should be “corrected” during the 2027 general elections.
According to the coalition, Wike’s frequent tours across Rivers State’s local government areas were designed to sow division, weaken the authority of the sitting governor, and erode the APC’s electoral prospects in the state.
“These actions, taken together, amount to clear anti-party conduct and pose a serious threat to the stability of the APC in Rivers State,” the memo stated.
The group also raised alarm over what it described as dangerous and inflammatory statements allegedly made by Wike, including claims that “nobody can enter Rivers State.”
They argued that such remarks amount to a challenge to federal authority and undermine the constitutional powers of the President as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.
According to the memo, portraying any part of Nigeria as a “no-go area” risks inflaming tensions in the Niger Delta and could have serious implications for national security and unity.
The APC leaders urged President Tinubu to take decisive action by sanctioning or removing Wike from office, warning that failure to do so could further deepen divisions within the party and weaken its chances ahead of the 2027 elections.
They also announced plans to escalate their agitation if their demands are ignored, revealing that nationwide protests across states and local government areas are being considered.
“As loyal party members, we cannot remain silent while the integrity of our party and the unity of the nation are threatened,” the statement concluded.
The development adds another layer to the complex political crisis in Rivers State and intensifies scrutiny of the role played by the FCT Minister within the Tinubu administration.
SUNTV Global Channel will continue to monitor reactions from the Presidency, the APC leadership, and Minister Nyesom Wike as the situation unfolds.
