society
Your Office Is Not a Playground, Minister Wike: APC Demands Your Resignation and a Return to Rivers Politics
Your Office Is Not a Playground, Minister Wike: APC Demands Your Resignation and a Return to Rivers Politics.
By George Omagbemi Sylvester | saharaweeklyng.com
“Why insisting that a former PDP governor serving in an APC government must choose between party loyalty or chaos is vital for democratic integrity and political sanity.”
Nigeria’s political theatre has seldom been short on drama and yet the latest salvo exchanged between the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, marks something beyond ordinary political tiff. It exposes a deeper crisis of legitimacy, loyalty and constitutional order in the conduct of public office holders who straddle party lines and seek to influence the affairs of opposing party structures.
On January 5, 2026, APC National Secretary Senator Ajibola Basiru publicly demanded that Wike resign his ministerial appointment, warning that it is incompatible for him to remain in the Federal Executive Council of an APC government “and be causing confusion within any organ or structure of the party at any level.” Basiru explicitly argued that Wike “cannot bring the spirit of PDP into the APC,” and insisted that if he wishes to pursue Rivers State politics, he should leave the cabinet and do so unabashedly on his own turf.
This demand is not mere rhetoric but it is rooted in constitutional norms, political ethics and the moral imperative of democratic cohesion. What the APC’s call underscores is this: political actors cannot selectively switch roles, borrow the authority of one party to influence another, and then cry foul when restrained. Nigeria’s fragile democracy cannot endure such ambiguity.
Wike’s Dual Role: A Contradiction in Terms.
Nyesom Wike’s political resume is impressive by any measure: a former two-term governor of Rivers State and a key figure in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), he has enjoyed political survival and influence that few Nigerians have matched. Yet his current position as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory in an APC-led government presents an inherent contradiction when he uses that platform to wade into intra-party affairs in Rivers.
Basiru’s argument is not about personal animosity. It is about political coherence and the idea that a ministerial appointee of one party should not be a ghost in the corridors of another’s leadership cockpit. As Basiru reminded the public, Wike’s support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu does not make him an APC member: “Millions of non-APC Nigerians also support Mr. President and his own is no different.”
This is an important distinction. Political support for a sitting president does not equate to party membership or allegiance. It is one thing to vote for a leader’s policy; it is another to interfere in the internal party mechanics of his political opponents while serving at the highest level of government.
This dilemma (a monopolisation of influence across political boundaries) is precisely what scholars warn against when they talk about institutional integrity. According to political scientist Dr. Samuel M. Makinde of the University of Ibadan, “The essence of party democracy is the clear demarcation of organisational structures and the autonomy of party actors. When actors blur these boundaries, they undermine internal discipline and weaken democratic competition.”
Wike’s interference in Rivers politics (particularly in the leadership tussle involving Governor Siminalayi Fubara and other party operatives) is exactly this kind of boundary-blurring. Whether one views his actions as strategic rescue or partisan sabotage, the optics are clear: a minister in an APC administration acting as though he remains the de facto leader of the Rivers PDP.
Why APC Is Right to Insist on Resignation.
Political parties are (by design) autonomous organisations. They are built on shared ideology, membership loyalty, and internal protocols. A cabinet minister, by contrast, holds executive power derived from the president and the constitution. These roles are not only different; they are structurally incompatible when fused in service of competing political ends.
Basiru’s demand for Wike’s resignation is bolstered by a fundamental principle of good governance: accountability and clarity of roles. Ministerial appointments are offices of public trust, not ethnic or party turfs to be wielded for partisan advantage. Forcing a minister to choose between serving the nation through the cabinet and pursuing state politics reduces the risk of conflicts of loyalty that derange governance.
Furthermore, Wike’s recent warning to APC leaders to “stay out of Rivers politics” (framing the state as a “no-go area”) only fuels the perception that he seeks to shield his political network from legitimate scrutiny and competition.
This kind of rhetoric does little for national unity or institutional integrity. It worsens factionalism and promotes political tribalism, conditions that weaken party structures, distort electoral democracy and stall policy progress.
In the words of Nigerian legal scholar Professor Ayo Olukotun, “Public office holders are custodians of the people’s trust, not personal fiefdoms. When they wear multiple political hats simultaneously, the risk of bias, divided loyalty, and policy incoherence rises sharply.”
PDP Spirit vs APC Structure: Beyond Semantics.
Basiru’s phrase about not allowing the “spirit of PDP” into the APC is more than political hyperbole. It hits at the heart of party identity.
A political party is not a marketplace where ideologies and loyalties are exchanged without consequence. Parties invest in their members; they build institutions; they define campaigns and governance frameworks. The APC’s rebuke stems from a refusal to accept political cross-contamination and the idea that a non-member can dictate or influence party operation under the cover of national office.
Consider this: if cabinet members can freely intervene in the business of opposing party structures, where does that leave party sovereignty? What prevents a future minister from shaping the internal affairs of another party? This is not speculative but it is a real threat to democratic fairness.
Comparative political theory warns against such encroachments. According to Professor Larry Diamond, an authority on democratic governance, “Stable democratic systems require institutional respect and boundaries. When public office holders engage in partisan manipulations beyond their mandate, it erodes confidence in both the state and party systems.”
Checks, Balances and Democratic Sanity.
Wike’s critics (including Basiru) argue that his presence in the cabinet undermines the APC’s efforts to consolidate party operations in the South-South and, by extension, Nigeria’s broader political stability. In practical terms, this shapes voter confidence, electoral strategy, and governance outcomes.
Nigeria, after all, has experienced the worst deficit of trust in institutions in decades. The ruling party cannot afford to allow perceptions of internal sabotage, or characterise legitimate partisan admonition as “interference.” Nor can a national government look on while a minister uses his office to influence sub-national party struggles.
As constitutional law expert Professor Babatunde Fagbayi succinctly puts it, “A minister wears the cloak of the nation, not of factional politics. When that cloak is used to mask partisan advantage, it betrays the public trust.”
The Road Ahead: A Moment of Reckoning for Wike.
The APC’s demand is not a personal vendetta. It is a clarion call for clarity, accountability and democratic fidelity. Nyesom Wike, as a seasoned political veteran, must recognise that his influence does not extend beyond the constitutional and ethical boundaries of the office he occupies.
If Wike genuinely seeks to contribute to Rivers politics (whether to protect his legacy, shape the 2027 contest, or unify factions) the honourable path is clear: resign his ministerial post and engage freely as a politician. Anything less is a recipe for continued conflict, fractured party structures, and further erosion of democratic norms.
When political actors refuse to choose between public office and partisan advantage, Nigeria’s democracy becomes weaker not stronger. And in a nation that has fought hard for the rule of law and institutional integrity, that is a risk too great to tolerate.
How Primate Ayodele Accurately Foretold CAR Election Outcome In 2026 Prophecies
Central African Republic’s President Faustin-Archange Touadéra has been re-elected to a third term, according to provisional results.
Touadéra won more than 76 percent of the vote, the electoral authority said, while his opponent Anicet-Georges Dologuele came second with 15 percent. Henri-Marie Dondra was third with three percent.
Primate Ayodele at the presentation of his 2026 prophecies on Saturday, 20th of December, 2025 had revealed that the election would see the incumbent president winning another term in office.
However, beyond the election victory, Primate Ayodele warned that the president must be careful against crisis that will affect his government. This can be found on page 46 of the prophecy booklet.
These were his words:
“CENTRAL AFRICA REPUBLIC: I foresee the formation of a government in the country. The spirit of God says the President will still win the coming election but must be careful against crisis against the government. The spirit of God says the Opposition will work against the President and his effort will not be appreciated. The President will do so much but will not be appreciated by the opposing political camps. I foresee there will be lots of problems coming up against the President and the country.”
Just as he said, the prophecy was accurately fulfilled with the victory of the president.
This prophecy adds to the long list of already fulfilled prophecies of Primate Elijah Ayodele. The prophecies started coming to pass few days after the release, further cementing his credibility in the prophetic ministry.
…Visit SCID Panti Yaba Lagos
… The NPF confirms that no formal petitions or complaints have been filed by anyone.
Recall that multiple allegations have been made against Senior Pastor Dr. Chris Okafor of Grace Nation Worldwide by Facebook users, who are challenging him on several offenses,
Following an invitation for questioning by the State Criminal Investigation Department in Yaba, Dr. Chris Okafor, the Generational Prophet of God, has visited the SCID office Panti for Questioning but he was informed that, apart from an online Facebook post, the absence of formal complaints implies the case is devoid of substance – a development described as surprising for the presumed suspect, with the case status being tantamount to closed
According to credible information, a complaint was filed alleging his absence on Monday, 5th January 2026, the day he was supposed to be questioned, as the Generational Prophet reportedly did not show up due to an ongoing investigation into the same matter at Zone 2 command of the Nigeria Police Force
It was reliably gathered that the faceless complainants did not appear at the SCID office in Panti, despite being offered protection and transportation to facilitate their testimony against the Man of God
In relation to this matter, the Zone 2 command of NFP is investigating Facebook complainants for purportedly believing that bullying on Facebook takes precedence over the law; further comments will be deferred until the investigation into blackmail, cyberbullying, and defamation of character allegations against Doris Ogala and associates is finalized
It has become patently evident that the allegations and counter-allegations leveled by some individuals are nothing but falsehoods; we will wait with bated breath to observe subsequent developments. The question of whether legal action will be taken against the individual trying to blackmail the Man of God is uncertain; time will tell.
Lawmaker Noheem Adams and his winning ways
By Johnbosco Afolabi
In a country where true service to humanity has become almost impossible, it has thus become our tasks to praise those who find it in their hearts and principles to shift from what has ordinarily become their norm to touch as much lives as they find possible. This is why when a governor in Nigeria is successfully able to complete the construction of a road, which should ordinarily be one of his duties to the people, we go beyond mere commendations. We wear Aso-ebi. We invite musicians. We gather ourselves and merry.
You don’t have to blame the people. Over the years, we have lived far less than third-class citizens in our communities, states and country. Those who we queue in the rain and sun to elect have often done the opposite of what we anticipate. The promises they oil our ears with before the elections often become far more than the axiomatic ‘rocket science’. Excuses take control.
On two occasions within December last year, I stumbled on two different videos on social media where irate constituents pounced on their representatives for abandoning them after the election. In one of the videos, the constituents claimed that the representative disappeared after the 2023 general election where he won a seat at the House of Representatives. As usual, the election season is fast approaching and the lawmaker sensed the need to return to base and bamboozle the electorate with some sweet-coated promises. The result is what he never anticipated.
As I watched that video, my mind kept drifting to Noheem Babatunde Adams, a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, who came in years ago through a supplementary election for a constituency that hitherto loathed the idea of an elected politician retaining his office after one term. Though, the unwritten traditional one term changed with his predecessor, Noheem has not only constantly won hearts. He has kept the tempo sustained.
Eti-Osa is one of the most-politically sophisticated area of Lagos and for someone to retain a position in such a place, it shows simply how deeply ingrained such a person is, It further shows how successfully the person has handled the mandate handed him by his people. In November, 2025, during the opening of a new housing scheme in Abraham Adesanya area of Eti-Osa, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu called Noheem “The Son In The Soil.” That sobriquet sank deservedly. It was a perfect description of a lawmaker whose passion and commitment has seen him going out of his core duties to bring smiles to the faces of his constituents. During the townhall meeting held simultaneously across Lagos by the House of Assembly in the last months of 2025, Noheem was one of the only two lawmakers who empowered 250 constituents with at least ₦25 million. That was unprecedented. Little wonder the free endorsements he continues to receive among leaders in the constituency.
The attention of my team was first drawn to his mode of operation in 2022 culminating in the political campaigns in 2023. Noheem was in every corner of his constituency, either sitting with the people, checking up on them, especially the aged, having deliberations and understanding their plights. Unassuming, he would always smile while listening. Then, for challenges he could handle, he did privately. For others he could not, he made promises to draw the attention of the government. And this he did both in letters, conversations with officials of the executive arm of government and in his positions on the floor of the House where he champions his people’s yearnings irrespective of whose ox is gored.
A close associate of the Majority Leader once told me that the lawmaker is not the average Nigerian politician. Why? He said Noheem was too sincere to be called one. He has these principles of treating everyone equally. He believes that everyone has specific grace and should never be handled less. “Bros, that man thrives better in challenging situations. His intuitions are very sharp. He pre-empts and solves a problem before it becomes obvious. He lives in the midst of his people and feels their pains. And he knows how to warm himself into the minds of the people with his smiles. His life revolves around his people and what he can do for them at every point. He has empowered people so much so that we do ask him what he has left for himself.”
At the Lagos Assembly, Noheem remains one of the most brilliant lawmaker handling his office with great mastery. Aside multiple motions, he is known to have single-handedly sponsored the Railway Corporation Bill in 2025. The bill that aims to systematically structure rail transportation in the state is currently in its final stage for passage.
He is not my representative, but he continues to earn my respect since I started monitoring him closely. Yes, he has. And Eti-Osa Constituency 1 got this one right. Think. Can you speak this way about the person who represents you?
Johnbosco, a media, political and social analyst, writes from Maryland, Lagos.
-
Politics6 months agoNigeria Is Not His Estate: Wike’s 2,000‑Hectare Scandal Must Shake Us Awake
-
society7 months agoJUSTICE DENIED: HOW JESAM MICHAEL’S KINDNESS WAS TURNED AGAINST HIM
-
celebrity radar - gossips5 months agoWhy Babangida’s Hilltop Home Became Nigeria’s Political “Mecca”
-
society5 months agoPower is a Loan, Not a Possession: The Sacred Duty of Planting People