Senior figures within the All Progressives Congress have raised fresh concerns over the political activities of Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike in Rivers State.
The development has unsettled party leaders, who now fear that the deepening rivalry between Wike and Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara could weaken APC unity ahead of the 2027 elections.
Multiple party sources said the situation has been closely watched at the highest levels.
Moreover, there are growing worries that Wike’s actions could place him on a collision course with President Bola Tinubu.
According to party insiders, the matter is no longer being treated as routine internal disagreement.
A member of the APC National Working Committee, who spoke anonymously to The Guardian, disclosed that party leaders may soon demand a clear intervention from the President.
“We may ask the President to choose between the party and his FCT minister if Wike continues acting as though he alone can advance the President’s political interests in Rivers or elsewhere. He is not a registered member of this party,” the source said.
The warning follows comments credited to Wike suggesting that Governor Fubara would not secure a second term in 2027.
However, those remarks reportedly angered APC loyalists in Rivers, who believe such statements undermine the party’s growing influence in the oil-rich state.
Party leaders insist that the APC Rivers State crisis must be handled carefully. They maintain that Wike, despite his current ministerial position, should not be allowed to overshadow the party’s structure.
Therefore, some officials believe firm boundaries must be set to protect party cohesion.
Meanwhile, former PDP National Vice Chairman (South-West), Eddy Olafeso, offered a different perspective on the unfolding drama.
Speaking to The Guardian, he described Wike’s predicament as a political reversal. “Wike is perhaps the most unfortunate politician in the history of Nigeria’s Fourth Republic. Fubara moved quickly to join the APC, leaving Wike behind,” Olafeso said.
Olafeso added that Wike’s former influence in Rivers politics has steadily declined. According to him, APC power brokers have already recognised Fubara as the party’s leading figure in the state.
Furthermore, some party members are said to be quietly pushing for Wike’s removal from his ministerial role.
For now, the APC leadership has avoided making any official pronouncement. However, pressure is mounting, and the APC Rivers State crisis continues to test party unity.
