Rivers Crisis: APC Confirms Talks With Fubara, Wike

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has broken its silence on the lingering political crisis in Rivers State, revealing that high-level “back-channel” negotiations are ongoing to reconcile Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

Naija News reports that the APC National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru, disclosed this while appearing on Beyond the Headlines, a current affairs programme on TVC News.

Basiru said that while the public is focused on court cases, impeachment threats and political exchanges, efforts to stabilise the state are being quietly handled behind the scenes.

Responding to questions over the perceived silence of the APC national leadership as Governor Fubara faces political and legal pressure, Basiru said meaningful political engagement rarely happens in the open.

He stated that it is not through press statements that real politics is done.

He added that politicians are “nocturnal animals,” noting that critical decisions are often taken discreetly rather than under public glare.

According to him, the goal of the ongoing engagements is to achieve a settlement in Rivers State where there will be “no victor and no vanquished.”

Basiru acknowledged the central role of Wike in the reconciliation process, despite the former Rivers governor remaining a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He described the FCT minister as a key stakeholder and a committed supporter of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, stressing that Rivers State remains critical to the President’s political success.

The comments mark a softening of relations between the APC leadership and Wike, following a public spat months ago when Basiru had suggested that Wike should resign if he could not align with the administration’s objectives.

Basiru said emotions had since cooled and attention had shifted to the party’s broader political agenda ahead of 2027, which he described as “Renewed 4 for 2027.”

The APC National Secretary also linked the Rivers reconciliation to the party’s wider expansion drive, noting that the number of APC governors had grown from 20 to 29 in recent months.

He dismissed claims that the wave of defections, including the recent defection of the Kano State Governor, was driven by financial inducements.

According to him, the party’s growth reflects President Tinubu’s leadership style and a political culture of negotiation and compromise.