APC leaders’ coalition urges Tinubu to sack Wike as FCT minister

A coalition of senior figures within the ruling All Progressives Congress has called on President Bola Tinubu to remove Nyesom Wike as minister of the Federal Capital Territory, accusing him of insubordination, anti-party conduct and actions they say threaten party unity.

In an open letter dated January 7, 2026, the groups — operating under the APC Leaders Forum and the Tinubu/Shettima Solidarity Movement — said Wike’s behaviour was incompatible with his continued service in an APC-led government. The letter was addressed to the president through the party’s national chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda.

The signatories made the letter public on Wednesday during a peaceful rally at the APC national secretariat in Abuja, which they described as part of a broader effort to defend party discipline and the administration’s Renewed Hope agenda.

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Those who signed the letter — Dr Emeka Okoro, Dr Adekunle Balogun, Ibrahim Yusuf and Abdulkareem Isiaka — described themselves as loyal supporters of the president and said they were compelled to speak out by what they called “egregious misconduct” by the former Rivers State governor.

Central to their complaint are allegations that Wike, who they say is not formally registered as an APC member, has repeatedly attacked the party’s national leadership. They cited remarks attributed to him during a visit to Oyigbo Local Government Area of Rivers State on January 5, in which he allegedly accused APC national secretary Ajibola Basiru of meddling in Rivers politics for personal gain.

The coalition said Wike’s reported warning that those interfering in Rivers affairs would “get their fingers burnt” amounted to intimidation and a direct affront to the party’s National Working Committee.

The letter also accused Wike of undermining the APC-led government in Rivers State by publicly criticising Governor Siminalayi Fubara. The groups said Wike had ridiculed the governor’s leadership, questioned the legitimacy of his election and suggested his tenure should be reversed in 2027.

They argued that such actions amounted to political sabotage and anti-party activity, warning that it could weaken the APC’s position in Rivers, a key state in the Niger Delta.

The coalition further criticised remarks attributed to Wike, suggesting that “nobody can enter Rivers State”, which they said amounted to a challenge to presidential authority and a threat to national cohesion. Any suggestion of restricting access to a Nigerian state, they said, undermined the authority of the president as commander-in-chief.

The groups also took issue with Wike’s public claim that he controls “two political parties”, describing it as a conflict of interest and a breach of party ethics.

They warned that keeping Wike in the cabinet could trigger internal crises ahead of the 2027 general elections and urged the president to act swiftly to protect party unity. The coalition said it planned to extend its protests nationwide until Wike is removed from office.

Oluwatosin Ogunjuyigbe is a writer and journalist who covers business, finance, technology, and the changing forces shaping Nigeria’s economy. He focuses on turning complex ideas into clear, compelling stories.

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