The campaign to remove former Rivers State governor Ezenwo Nyesom Wike from office as minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) kicked off on Wednesday in Abuja with a peaceful rally organised by leaders of Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), operating under the umbrellas of the APC Leaders Forum (ALF) and the Tinubu/Shettima Solidarity Movement (TSSM).
At the rally, which attracted party faithful and pro-government activists, Wike’s conduct was strongly criticised and the presidency sternly warned over what the groups described as a growing threat to the party’s unity and national stability.
The protesters, who converged near the APC National Secretariat, said their action was motivated by what they termed “deep concern for the stability of the APC, the security of our nation, and the sanctity of democratic principles.”
Newsmata.com.ng reports that the protest happened on the same day that 26 lawmakers at the Rivers State House of Assembly loyal to Wike began an impeachment process against Governor Siminalayi Fubara, the minister’s estranged political godson.
Carrying placards with various inscriptions like “President Tinubu, Sack Wike Now!!!; Wike Stop Disrespecting APC Leaders; President Tinubu, Discipline Wike Or APC Loses Relevance”, among others, and chanting pro-Tinubu slogans, the demonstrators insisted that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu must act swiftly to preserve discipline within the ruling party and prevent further escalation of political tensions, particularly in Rivers State and the wider Niger Delta region.
In an open letter and press statement jointly signed by Dr. Emeka Okoro, Dr. Adekunle Balogun, Alhaji Ibrahim Yusuf, and Mallam Abdulkareem Isiaka, addressed to President Tinubu and routed through the APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, the groups accused Wike of insubordination, persistent attacks on the party’s national leadership, and actions capable of undermining the authority of the president himself. They described their rally as a peaceful assembly of loyal party members committed to defending the integrity of the APC and the Renewed Hope Agenda of the Tinubu administration.
Reaffirming their loyalty to President Tinubu and their commitment to mobilising grassroots support for the Renewed Hope Agenda, the leaders said “We have scheduled a rally today. This is a peaceful assembly of loyal party faithful, dedicated to upholding the integrity of our great party and your visionary leadership,” the statement read.
According to the organisers, their decision to go public followed months of silence and internal consultations, which they said had failed to curb what they called Wike’s “egregious misconduct.”
The APC leaders and Tinubu/Shettima support groups alleged that Wike’s recent public utterances amounted to a “brazen assault” on the APC’s leadership structure. They argued that as a serving minister in an APC-led government, Wike ought to exercise restraint and loyalty, rather than openly criticising party officials and elected leaders.
Central to their grievance were Wike’s alleged attacks on the APC National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru. The groups recalled comments attributed to Wike during a “thank-you tour” of Oyigbo Local Government Area of Rivers State on January 5, 2026, where he reportedly accused Basiru of meddling in Rivers politics for personal gain and eyeing the state’s resources.
In the same address, Wike was quoted as warning that anyone interfering in Rivers politics would “get their fingers burnt.” The rally organisers condemned the remarks as “vicious and unprovoked,” stressing that Wike is not a registered member of the APC and therefore lacks the moral standing to disparage its national officers.
They described the comments as an insult not only to Senator Basiru but to the entire National Working Committee (NWC) of the party, adding that such statements undermine the authority of the APC’s leadership and threaten internal cohesion.
Beyond the alleged verbal attacks, the groups also accused the FCT minister of fuelling political instability in Rivers State through his ongoing feud with Governor Siminalayi Fubara. According to them, Wike has repeatedly mocked the governor’s leadership, described his emergence as a “mistake,” and vowed that the situation would be “corrected” in 2027.
The protesters argued that such statements amount to political sabotage and anti-party activities that weaken the APC’s prospects in Rivers State, which they described as a strategic battleground for future elections.
“As a serving minister in an APC-led government, Wike’s actions amount to anti-party activities that weaken our hold on Rivers State—a key battleground for the APC’s future electoral success,” the statement said.
The groups expressed solidarity with Governor Fubara, insisting that internal party disagreements should be handled through established channels rather than through public attacks capable of inflaming tensions.
The rally also focused on what the organisers described as a direct challenge to President Tinubu’s authority. They cited an alleged statement by Wike that “nobody can enter Rivers State,” which they interpreted as a declaration of the state as a “no-go area.”
According to the protesters, such language is dangerous and provocative, particularly given the history of unrest and militancy in the Niger Delta. They warned that suggesting restrictions on movement within any part of the federation amounted to questioning the authority of the president as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.
Wike’s words are a direct attack on your presidency, suggesting he viewed himself above the law and the APC’s hierarchy,” the statement added.
The groups cautioned that failure to address such rhetoric could embolden others and pose a threat to national unity.
In a dramatic escalation of their demands, the APC leaders and Tinubu/Shettima support groups threatened to embark on nationwide protests if Wike is not removed from office. They declared that the Abuja rally was only the beginning of a broader mobilisation that would spread across states and local government areas until their demand is met.
“Be informed that we shall proceed with this rally not only at the National Secretariat but across the length and breadth of this country—state by state, local government by local government—until Nyesom Wike is relieved of his appointment as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory,” they warned.
According to the organisers, the planned protests are aimed at defending party supremacy, reinforcing President Tinubu’s leadership, and safeguarding Nigeria’s unity.
The groups urged President Tinubu to take decisive action, arguing that sacking Wike would send a clear message that no individual is bigger than the party or the nation. They maintained that prompt intervention would help douse tensions, restore confidence among party members, and reinforce discipline within the APC.
They also pledged continued solidarity with the APC national leadership, Senator Basiru, and Governor Fubara, whom they described as victims of unwarranted political attacks.
As of the time of filing this report, neither the presidency nor the FCT minister had issued an official response to the demands raised at the rally. However, the development underscored growing internal tensions within the ruling party and highlighted the delicate balancing act facing the Tinubu administration as it seeks to maintain unity while managing competing interests and personalities within its ranks.