Abuja, Nigeria – February 26, 2026 — The National Secretary of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ajibola Basiru, has clarified that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, remains outside the party’s membership despite serving in a prominent position under President Bola Tinubu’s APC-led administration. Basiru made the statement while addressing ongoing public discussions about Wike’s political affiliation and his contributions to the Tinubu government’s image and performance.
Speaking during an appearance on the television programme Beyond The Headlines, Basiru emphasized that Wike’s tenure as FCT Minister has significantly enhanced the perception of the APC administration, particularly through visible and widespread infrastructural development across Abuja and its environs. He directly linked the party’s recent success in the FCT Area Council elections to the tangible projects delivered under Wike’s leadership.
“The massive infrastructural development that has occurred in the FCT—not only in the urban areas, but even in the suburbs—in the past two and a half years, you’ll discover that the sterling performance of the FCT Minister together with the engagement that our party has done and the careful selection of candidates who have the history of sterling performance from different political parties have contributed to APC’s victory in the FCT local government elections,” Basiru stated.
He described Wike’s performance as “sterling” and argued that it has played a decisive role in boosting public confidence in the ruling party. According to Basiru, the transformation has not been confined to high-profile districts in the city centre but has extended to previously underserved suburban and satellite communities, delivering what he termed the “dividends of democracy” in a manner residents can see and feel.
Basiru further explained that the APC’s electoral strategy in the FCT combined effective governance with targeted political outreach. The party prioritized direct engagement with residents and fielded candidates with established track records, even if they originated from opposition parties. This pragmatic approach, paired with the visible impact of ongoing projects, made the APC more competitive and appealing at the grassroots level.
“So you can’t discountenance effective administrative deployment of the dividends of democracy in the FCT under the present FCT administration from the success of our party in that election,” Basiru insisted. He stressed that governance achievements and political outcomes are inextricably linked when citizens witness concrete improvements in their daily lives.
The comments come amid persistent speculation about Wike’s long-term political future and his relationship with the APC. Wike, a former two-term governor of Rivers State and a prominent figure in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), played a key role in supporting President Tinubu’s 2023 election victory despite not formally defecting to the APC. His appointment as FCT Minister in August 2023 was widely seen as a reward for that support and an effort to broaden the Tinubu administration’s appeal across party lines.
Since taking office, Wike has overseen an aggressive infrastructure agenda in the FCT, including road rehabilitation, bridge construction, drainage improvements, street lighting upgrades, housing schemes, and urban renewal projects. Major initiatives have targeted both the city core—such as the revitalization of the Central Business District—and outlying areas like Gwagwalada, Kuje, Abaji, Kwali, Bwari, and Abuja Municipal Area Council zones. Critics and supporters alike have acknowledged the accelerated pace of work, with several long-stalled projects now nearing completion or showing visible progress.
The APC’s strong showing in the most recent FCT Area Council elections—held in late 2025—saw the party secure a majority of chairmanship and councillorship seats across the six area councils. Party officials have hailed the results as evidence of growing acceptance of the Tinubu administration’s policies at the local level, particularly in a jurisdiction historically dominated by opposition-leaning sentiments.
Basiru’s remarks also reflect the APC’s broader messaging strategy: highlighting deliverables over strict party loyalty in coalition-style governance. By publicly crediting Wike—a non-member—for contributing to the party’s electoral fortunes, the national secretary underscores the administration’s focus on performance and results rather than ideological purity.
The statement has sparked varied reactions. Supporters of the Tinubu administration view it as validation of the president’s inclusive approach to appointments and governance. Critics, particularly within opposition circles, argue it highlights the APC’s reliance on figures from rival parties to sustain its image and electoral viability.
As debates over political alignments and cross-party cooperation continue, Basiru’s comments reaffirm the official position: Wike serves at the pleasure of an APC president and has delivered outcomes that benefit the party’s standing in the FCT. With ongoing infrastructure projects and preparations for future elections, the minister’s role is likely to remain a focal point in discussions about the Tinubu administration’s performance and political strategy.
