Group Raises Alarm Over Wike’s Political Activities, Warns of Threat to Democracy

A civil advocacy organisation, the Niger Delta Network, NDN, has raised concerns over what it described as the growing political recklessness of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, warning of its implications for Rivers State, the Niger Delta region and Nigeria’s democracy.

The group, in a press statement issued on Thursday, said Wike’s political activities now pose a serious threat to party stability, regional peace and constitutional governance.

The statement, made available to journalists in Port Harcourt and signed by the National President of the group, Akparawa Emmanuel Sam, and its Director of Publicity, John Douglas, alleged that Wike’s conduct has portrayed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as a weak leader.

According to the group, no president should allow a serving minister to openly destabilise political institutions while remaining in government.

The NDN claimed that Wike’s actions cut across party lines, recalling that his political activities initially targeted the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, before allegedly shifting towards destabilising the All Progressives Congress, APC.

“It would be recalled that his political rascality first targeted the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, destabilising the PDP, an action many interpreted as being in the interest of the All Progressives Congress, APC, but has now allegedly shifted focus to destabilising the APC itself,” the statement read.

The group questioned whose interests the minister is serving, alleging that he directed his loyalists to defect to the APC in Rivers State, not to strengthen the party, but to weaken it.

It further accused Wike of allegedly planning to sponsor a governorship candidate outside the ruling party, while assuring President Tinubu of loyalty.

The statement warned the President against relying on such assurances, claiming that deeper leadership crises could emerge if the situation is not addressed.

Focusing on Rivers State, the group referenced public statements by the Vice President recognising governors as party leaders in their states, noting that the situation in Rivers differs, as Wike, who is not a member of the APC, allegedly insists that Governor Siminalayi Fubara cannot lead the party.

The NDN also linked the ongoing crisis between Governor Fubara and the Rivers State House of Assembly, including impeachment threats, to the governor’s defection to the APC, alleging that the development is largely responsible for the tension.

“This development shows clearly that Wike now determines what anybody does in this country, not the President,” the statement claimed.

The group warned that any successful impeachment of Governor Fubara, allegedly orchestrated through the state legislature, could trigger widespread instability across the Niger Delta, embolden political strongmen and deepen regional tensions.

It added that such an outcome would signal that no governor defecting to the APC is politically safe and that assurances from the party’s national leadership cannot be trusted.

According to the group, if the PDP restrained Wike from removing Fubara for over two years, but the APC allows it to happen in less than one month, it would amount to a serious institutional failure with national consequences.

Describing Wike as a “power-drunk politician,” the NDN warned that the removal of Fubara could embolden him to seek political dominance across other Niger Delta states.

“If Mr President fails to stop Wike, Wike will surely stop him. He must wake up now before Wike stops Nigeria’s democracy,” the statement concluded.