Pressure is mounting within the All Progressives Congress (APC) as party groups intensify calls for the removal of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, citing alleged anti-party conduct and actions they say undermine party cohesion and national unity.
The latest demand came from a coalition operating under the APC Leaders Forum (ALF) and the Tinubu/Shettima Solidarity Movement (TSSM), which accused the former Rivers State governor of conduct inconsistent with the expectations of a serving minister in an APC-led administration.
In an open letter dated January 7, 2026, and addressed to President Bola Tinubu through the party’s national leadership, the groups argued that Wike’s continued stay in the Federal Executive Council poses political and institutional risks for the ruling party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The letter, jointly signed by leaders of the coalition, was unveiled during a peaceful rally at the APC National Secretariat in Abuja. The groups described the protest as part of a broader mobilisation to protect party discipline and defend the principles of the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
According to the coalition, Wike has repeatedly made public statements that openly challenge the authority of the APC’s national leadership, despite not being formally registered as a member of the party. They cited remarks allegedly made by the minister during a recent visit to Rivers State, where he was accused of verbally attacking senior APC officials and issuing statements perceived as intimidating.
The groups also accused Wike of persistently working against Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State, whom they described as the APC’s duly elected governor. They alleged that the minister has openly questioned the legitimacy of the governor’s emergence, publicly criticised his leadership, and suggested that his administration should be politically corrected in 2027.
According to the petitioners, such actions amount to political sabotage and weaken the APC’s strategic position in Rivers State, a key battleground in the Niger Delta region.
Beyond party politics, the coalition raised concerns over comments attributed to Wike suggesting that certain political actors would be barred from entering Rivers State. They warned that such statements could inflame political tensions and were incompatible with the authority of the federal government.
The groups further criticised what they described as a conflict of interest, alleging that the minister had publicly acknowledged influence across multiple political platforms while serving in an APC government.
They warned that failure to address the situation could deepen internal divisions within the party and create avoidable distractions for the administration at a time of economic and security challenges.
While calling for decisive action, the coalition reaffirmed its loyalty to President Tinubu, urging him to demonstrate that party discipline applies to all political appointees regardless of influence or past alliances. They also announced plans to extend their protests nationwide if their concerns are not addressed.
As of press time, neither the FCT Minister nor the Presidency had issued an official response to the allegations.
