He suggested that while the public sees legal battles and heated rhetoric, the real work of stabilisation is happening away from the cameras.
The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has finally addressed the ongoing political tension in Rivers State, revealing that high-level “back-channel” talks are underway to reconcile Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
Appearing on TVC News’ Beyond the Headlines, the APC National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru, provided a rare glimpse into the party’s strategic handling of the Rivers situation.
He suggested that while the public sees legal battles and heated rhetoric, the real work of stabilisation is happening away from the cameras.
Responding to questions about the perceived silence of the APC national leadership while Governor Fubara, now considered a member of the APC fold, faces impeachment threats and legal hurdles, Basiru explained that “real politics” is rarely conducted via press statements.
Senator Basiru noted that by his experience as a politician, it is not through press statements that one articulates real politics.
He remarked that politicians are “nocturnal animals” and that concrete decisions are often taken in the hours of darkness rather than under public scrutiny.
Wike assured that the party is working toward an amicable resolution where there will be “no victor and no vanquished.”
Central to this resolution is the role of Nyesom Wike. Despite Wike remaining a member of the People’s Democratic Party PDP, the APC National Secretary acknowledged him as a critical stakeholder and an avowed supporter of President Bola Tinubu.
Basiru confirmed that the FCT minister is being actively engaged in the peace process. He stated that as someone interested in the success of the President, Rivers State is critical to that success, and confirmed that Wike is being engaged to reach a harmonious resolution.
This marks a significant cooling of temperatures between the party’s executive and the Minister, following a public spat months ago where Basiru had previously suggested Wike should resign if he could not align with the administration’s goals.
Basiru noted that those emotions have since cooled, and the focus has shifted to the “Renewed 4 for 2027”.
The Rivers reconciliation is part of a broader expansionist drive by the APC, which has seen its tally of governors rise from 20 to 29 in recent months. Basiru dismissed claims that these defections—including the recent crossover of the Kano State Governor—were secured through financial inducements. Instead, he attributed the party’s growth to President Tinubu’s sagacious leadership and a spirit of “give and take” within the political class.