The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has broken its silence on the lingering political tension in Rivers State, confirming that high-level “back-channel” engagements are ongoing to reconcile Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
The APC National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru, disclosed this while speaking on *Beyond the Headlines* on TVC News, offering insight into how the party is managing the crisis behind the scenes.
Basiru suggested that while the public is focused on court cases, impeachment threats and strong rhetoric, the real efforts to stabilise the state are taking place away from public view.
Responding to concerns over the perceived silence of the APC national leadership as Governor Fubara—now seen as aligned with the APC—faces mounting political and legal pressure, Basiru said meaningful politics is not conducted through press statements.
“From my experience in politics, real politics is not articulated through press statements,” he said, adding that politicians are “nocturnal animals” who often take critical decisions out of public glare.
He assured that the party is working towards an amicable resolution in Rivers State, stressing that the goal is a settlement with “no victor and no vanquished.”
Basiru acknowledged the central role of Nyesom Wike in the reconciliation process, despite the FCT minister remaining a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He described Wike as a key political stakeholder and a committed supporter of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
According to him, Wike is being actively engaged in the peace efforts, noting that Rivers State is strategically important to the success of the Tinubu administration.
“As someone interested in the success of the President, Rivers State is critical, and Wike is being engaged to achieve a harmonious resolution,” Basiru said.
The comments signal a softening of relations between the APC leadership and the FCT minister, months after a public exchange in which Basiru had suggested Wike should resign if he could not align with the administration’s objectives.
Basiru noted that those tensions have since eased, with attention now focused on what he described as the “Renewed 4 for 2027.”
He also linked the Rivers reconciliation efforts to the APC’s broader expansion drive, which has seen the party’s number of governors reportedly increase from 20 to 29 in recent months.
Dismissing claims that recent defections—including that of the Kano State governor—were influenced by financial inducements, Basiru attributed the APC’s growth to President Tinubu’s leadership and a culture of political “give and take.”