PDP Wike Faction Gives APC Scribe Basiru 48 Hours to Apologise Over Attack on Wike
By Queen Madaki | The Bureau News
Nigeria News Today: A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ajibola Basiru, demanding a public apology over comments described as a personal attack on the former Rivers State governor.
The demand followed remarks credited to Basiru on Monday, in which he asked Wike to resign as FCT minister and focus on what he termed an “obsession” with Rivers State politics.
Wike had earlier cautioned the APC national secretary to stay away from political affairs in Rivers State.
In a statement released on Tuesday and signed by Etim Isong, the factional Zonal Publicity Secretary of the PDP in the South-South, the group condemned Basiru’s comments, describing them as inappropriate and capable of undermining the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The faction said it was ironic that Basiru, whom it accused of failing to deliver a governorship victory for the APC in Osun State in the 2023 elections, would question Wike’s political relevance in Rivers State.
“To imply that Minister Wike’s support for President Tinubu is no different from that of other non-APC supporters is a clear indicator of amateurish political judgment,” the statement said.
The group further criticised Basiru’s call for Wike’s resignation, describing it as an act that portrayed the APC scribe as an opponent of the Tinubu-led administration.
“Senator Basiru’s call for the resignation of a performing minister like Nyesom Wike portrays him as an opponent of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and an enemy of the Nigerian state,” the statement added.
The PDP faction went on to describe Basiru as unfit to occupy the office of APC national secretary and called on him to resign, accusing him of attempting to deploy divide-and-rule tactics in Rivers State politics.
According to the statement, Basiru must issue a public apology to Wike and the people of Rivers State within 48 hours or risk being declared persona non grata in the state.
“He has 48 hours to issue a full apology to Minister Nyesom Wike and the people of Rivers State,” the group warned.
The faction reaffirmed that Wike remains a national leader of the PDP whose influence in Rivers State politics is decisive.
It noted that even the current Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, recognises Wike as the political leader who built the structure that produced him as governor.
The group concluded that the APC could not downplay Wike’s role in Rivers politics or his imp
