The All Progressives Congress (APC) says it is pursuing behind-the-scenes negotiations to de-escalate the political dispute in Rivers State between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike Based on reporting by Naija News .
Speaking on TVC News’ Beyond the Headlines, APC National Secretary Ajibola Basiru said the party’s approach has focused on private engagement rather than public messaging, arguing that “real politics” often happens away from cameras and press releases.
Basiru’s comments come amid a prolonged standoff in Rivers that has played out through court actions, political brinkmanship, and heightened tensions within the state’s political class. In recent weeks, the dispute has also intersected with internal party calculations as the APC works to consolidate influence in the oil-producing state ahead of the next electoral cycle.
During the interview, Basiru suggested that the public focus on litigation and heated statements can obscure the efforts being made privately to stabilize the situation. He framed the party’s engagement as a deliberate strategy to keep discussions productive and reduce the risk of inflaming tensions.
He also indicated that the APC has been reaching out to both camps, including Wike, whom he described as a key stakeholder given his continued national political relevance and his public alignment with President Bola Tinubu’s administration, even though he remains associated with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
A notable element of Basiru’s remarks was the emphasis on engaging Wike directly as part of the peace process. The APC official signaled that the party’s objective is a political settlement that avoids a winner-takes-all outcome, describing the desired endpoint as one in which there is
“no victor and no vanquished.”
That tone is a shift from earlier public friction between Basiru and Wike, which had included sharp exchanges over Rivers politics. Separate reporting in early January highlighted the intensity of that dispute and the broader intra-party pressures surrounding Rivers.
POLITICAL COMMENTARY
APC opens back-channel talks to ease Rivers political crisis
Jan 30, 2026
May 15, 2026
4 min read
Published
Updated:
The All Progressives Congress (APC) says it is pursuing behind-the-scenes negotiations to de-escalate the political dispute in Rivers State between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike Based on reporting by Naija News .
Speaking on TVC News’ Beyond the Headlines, APC National Secretary Ajibola Basiru said the party’s approach has focused on private engagement rather than public messaging, arguing that “real politics” often happens away from cameras and press releases.
Basiru’s comments come amid a prolonged standoff in Rivers that has played out through court actions, political brinkmanship, and heightened tensions within the state’s political class. In recent weeks, the dispute has also intersected with internal party calculations as the APC works to consolidate influence in the oil-producing state ahead of the next electoral cycle.
During the interview, Basiru suggested that the public focus on litigation and heated statements can obscure the efforts being made privately to stabilize the situation. He framed the party’s engagement as a deliberate strategy to keep discussions productive and reduce the risk of inflaming tensions.
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He also indicated that the APC has been reaching out to both camps, including Wike, whom he described as a key stakeholder given his continued national political relevance and his public alignment with President Bola Tinubu’s administration, even though he remains associated with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
A notable element of Basiru’s remarks was the emphasis on engaging Wike directly as part of the peace process. The APC official signaled that the party’s objective is a political settlement that avoids a winner-takes-all outcome, describing the desired endpoint as one in which there is
“no victor and no vanquished.”
That tone is a shift from earlier public friction between Basiru and Wike, which had included sharp exchanges over Rivers politics. Separate reporting in early January highlighted the intensity of that dispute and the broader intra-party pressures surrounding Rivers.
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Rivers and the wider APC political map
Basiru also placed the Rivers mediation within the APC’s broader political strategy, pointing to recent momentum in attracting defections and strengthening the party’s footprint across states. He rejected claims that political realignments were driven by financial inducements, instead crediting political bargaining and what he described as the president’s leadership style.
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While Rivers remains politically sensitive, the national party has strong incentives to prevent the crisis from deepening into a prolonged institutional standoff. In separate reporting, the Presidency has also weighed in on Rivers’ APC leadership hierarchy, a sign that the issue has implications beyond state-level politics.
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What to watch next
For now, the APC’s public position is that talks are ongoing and aimed at a political solution rather than escalation. Whether that translates into a durable agreement will likely depend on how the negotiation channel manages competing interests around party structure, governance control, and the dispute’s legal and legislative dimensions.
Source: Naija News
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