The All Progressives Congress (APC) has confirmed that former Rivers State Governor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, is being actively engaged in ongoing efforts to resolve the political crisis in Rivers State, despite not being a registered member of the ruling party.

APC National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru, made this disclosure on Thursday during an interview on TVC’s ‘Beyond The Headlines’, noting Wike’s critical role in the state’s political landscape and his support for President Bola Tinubu.

“Of course, as you know, Wike is an avowed supporter of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, even though not a member of the political party,” Basiru said.

“Rivers State is critical to the success of President Tinubu, and definitely, he will be engaged. He’s been engaged in an amicable resolution in the state as expected.”

Basiru stressed that the ongoing consultations were largely confidential, noting that “not every measure being taken will be made public through the media.”

He assured Nigerians that the Rivers State crisis would be settled amicably, without winners or losers, and promised that details of the resolution would be shared publicly in the coming days.

Addressing criticisms that the APC is predominantly an elite party attracting only governors and political heavyweights, Basiru emphasised the mass appeal of the party:

“The APC is a very serious political party. We are a mass-based organisation, and going by the figures from our mass e-registration system, we are confident that APC is a party to beat in all elections. We are loved by the Nigerian people, and they are trooping out to join the APC.”

“Our tradition is socio-democratic, pro-people, and we are working to strengthen our party. We are mobilising, conscientising, and showing Nigerians why the pan-Nigerian political party, the APC, is the party to be in. The masses of Nigerian people are joining our party in large numbers.”

The statement comes against the backdrop of a long-standing political rift between Wike and Governor Siminalayi Fubara over control of Rivers State politics.

Fubara officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the APC on December 9, 2025, a move interpreted as a major political realignment ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The defection followed earlier shifts by several prominent members of the Rivers State House of Assembly to the APC, ending Fubara’s long association with the PDP and positioning him as the ruling party’s central figure in the state.

After Fubara’s defection, Wike publicly criticised him for allegedly breaking prior agreements and questioned his chances of securing another term in office.

The FCT Minister further argued that Fubara does not enjoy genuine backing within the APC, suggesting he is being misadvised and faces slim prospects of winning the 2027 governorship race in the oil-producing state.

In an unexpected development, the majority of the Rivers State House of Assembly members—aligned with the APC, like the governor—commenced impeachment proceedings against Fubara on January 8, 2026.

Observers widely attributed the move to Wike’s influence in the state’s politics. The proceedings, however, remain stalled due to ongoing litigation.

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Former Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has denied reports claiming that he held a closed-door meeting with former Kano State Governor, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, at his Abuja residence.

Fayemi, immediate past Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, dismissed the report in a statement issued by the Head of his Media Office, Ahmad Sajoh, on Thursday, describing the claim as false and urging the public to disregard it.

The report, which circulated on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday, was shared by several social media handles alongside an old video clip showing Fayemi greeting Kwankwaso at his residence.

According to the statement, the former Ekiti governor had met Kwankwaso only once in the past year and not in any private political setting.

“Dr Fayemi has only met Senator Kwankwaso once in the last year, and that occasion was at the public book launch of former Attorney-General of the Federation, Mohammed Bello Adoke, SAN,” the statement said.

It added that, “At no time has Dr Fayemi held, or is he holding, any closed-door political meeting with Senator Kwankwaso as suggested by the post.”

The former governor acknowledged that he and Kwankwaso have been friends since their time as governors, but stressed that their relationship is personal and non-partisan.

He noted that the friendship is “based on mutual respect and a shared commitment to the progress of Nigeria, rather than on any political alignment.”

Fayemi also cautioned against attempts by political actors to attach partisan interpretations to private relationships, noting that many of his friends and associates are either not involved in partisan politics or belong to different political persuasions.

The statement added that Fayemi’s associates “span the entire spectrum of Nigeria’s political terrain.”

It, therefore, reaffirmed the former governor’s commitment to national unity, principled engagement, and responsible public discourse.

Kebbi’s political map shifted on Tuesday as Alhaji Lawali Dakingari, a prominent PDP chieftain and former governorship aspirant, led a massive wave of defections.

The defection included 2,208 delegates from polling units across Suru Local Government Area from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress.

The move marks one of the largest single defections in Kebbi in recent months and underscores the increasingly fluid political alliances as parties manoeuvre ahead of future election cycles.

The defectors were received at the government house, Birnin Kebbi, by Governor Nasir Idris, alongside APC leaders and representatives from all 21 local government areas of the state.

Suru LG and the wider Dakingari political structure have traditionally been key assets to both PDP and APC in Kebbi, especially since the era of ex- Governor Sa’idu Dakingari (2007–2015).

PDP once dominated the zone, but its influence has waned following APC’s consolidation of power in the state and internal PDP disputes after the 2023 elections.

Speaking at the event, Lawali Dakingari said the mass switch to the APC was done “in good faith” and without conditions, crediting the leadership style of Governor Idris and the political legacy of former Governor Dakingari.

“We joined the APC because we believe in sincerity, justice and unity,” he said, noting that members of the ADC and long-standing PDP loyalists dating back to 1999 were part of the wave.

He disclosed that more defections are expected in the coming days, including former local government chairmen and other political stakeholders who could not attend due to short notice, signalling continued realignments within Kebbi’s opposition space.

APC State Chairman, Alhaji Abubakar Kana-Zuru, described the development as a “major numerical boost” for the party, urging both new and old members to prioritise party registration and voter mobilisation ahead of future elections.

Governor Idris thanked the defectors, saying the influx reflects shared goals and growing alignment across Suru and beyond.
“Today we are one family. By the grace of Allah, we will continue to work together to deepen peace, strengthen security and deliver more dividends of democracy,” he said.