North‑Central APC Stands Unshakable Behind Wike — Calls His Ouster “A Betrayal of FCT Progress”

By Adesakin Adefemi 

The North‑Central All Progressives Congress (APC) Forum has thrown its full weight behind Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike, denouncing recent calls for his resignation as a dangerous distraction aimed at stalling Abuja’s rapid development. In a strongly worded statement released Monday by Forum Chairman Alhaji Saleh Zazzaga, the group condemned both the APC National Secretary’s public demand for Wike to step aside and broader civil‑society appeals — including a petition from the Ijaw National Congress (West Africa Chapter) urging President Bola Tinubu to reassign him to the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs.

“The minister is performing exceptionally well in the FCT under an APC‑led administration,” the Forum asserted, highlighting that Wike has delivered visible infrastructure upgrades in less than two years — a feat unmatched by his predecessors who served eight full years without comparable results. The statement underscored that the FCT falls squarely within the North‑Central geopolitical zone, and any attempt to remove Wike is tantamount to “an attempt to derail development and undermine the gains recorded by the Tinubu administration.”

Zazzaga did not mince words: “Some people stayed eight years as FCT minister without anything to show for it — but in under two years, Wike has turned the FCT around. Yet self‑serving interests are calling for his head. This is highly condemnable, and we will not allow it — even if the calls come from party leaders.” The Forum warned that continued pressure could spark mass protests in Abuja, a scenario they said would serve no one’s interest except those seeking to destabilise the capital.

The controversy erupted after APC National Secretary Senator Ajibola Basiru publicly urged Wike to quit his federal role and concentrate on Rivers State politics — a suggestion Wike has publicly dismissed as unwarranted interference. Basiru’s comments followed a bitter standoff between Wike and Rivers Governor Siminalayi Fubara, prompting some Nigerians to demand that Tinubu either sack or reassign the minister. But the North‑Central bloc insists his removal would be a strategic misstep, arguing that Wike’s focus on roads, drainage, housing and security in Abuja is delivering tangible dividends to ordinary citizens.

Beyond defending his performance, the Forum also mounted a spirited defense of Wike’s political relevance — pointing out that despite not being an APC card‑carrying member, he played a pivotal role in securing the party’s 2023 presidential victory. “None of them calling for his resignation contributed as much as Wike to the emergence of this administration — even though he is not a member of the party,” the statement read. “The national chairman and national secretary know they did not contribute as much — so they should not be saying he is not a party man.”

The group further accused certain “businessmen‑politicians” of using Wike as a pawn in unrelated power plays, urging them to cease their “distraction” and allow the minister to focus on his mandate. “We are not concerned with the issues in Rivers State — we warn that even if they are collecting money to take sides there, they should not use that to distract the Minister of the FCT,” the Forum warned.

The North‑Central APC Forum reaffirms its full confidence in Minister Nyesom Wike and calls on him to remain steadfast in executing his mandate, disregarding any external pressures or politically motivated calls for his removal. The Forum urges all stakeholders — including party leadership and civil society — to respect the minister’s proven track record and to channel their energies toward supporting, rather than undermining, the ongoing transformation of the Federal Capital Territory.