The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has stirred controversy after publicly claiming that he helped key figures within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) use the courts to block the release of local government allocations to Osun State.
In a video currently circulating online, Wike made the remarks while addressing supporters in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The former Rivers governor alleged that some APC leaders benefitted from judicial actions against the Osun State Government without understanding who facilitated those outcomes behind the scenes.
The legal dispute in question resulted in the freezing of local government funds in Osun State, a move widely interpreted as politically motivated against Governor Ademola Adeleke’s administration.
Speaking angrily, Wike suggested that the court ruling favouring the APC did not occur by coincidence, hinting that influential political actors quietly ensured the result.
He specifically accused APC National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru, of enjoying political advantages in Osun State while showing what he described as ingratitude.
“Don’t take our support for the President for granted,” Wike warned, directing his remarks at APC leaders who have been vocal about the political crisis in Rivers State. He cautioned them to be mindful of their statements and actions.
“You are enjoying political gains in Osun, yet you don’t know who did the work,” Wike said, criticizing Basiru for commenting on Rivers politics. He added cryptically, “Whatever you see, take it.”
The comments come amid a growing war of words between Wike and APC leaders. Earlier, Senator Basiru had called on Wike to resign as FCT minister, accusing him of meddling in the internal affairs of the APC despite not being a party member.
In a statement, Basiru stressed that Wike lacks the authority to interfere in APC matters, particularly in Rivers State, noting that governors remain the recognized leaders of the party in their respective states.
He described Wike’s reaction to his comments as inappropriate for a serving member of the Federal Executive Council.
Basiru further emphasized that, as APC National Secretary, his responsibility covers the party’s national structure, dismissing claims that his remarks amounted to undue interference.
The controversy is linked to a Supreme Court ruling delivered in December 2025 concerning the Osun local government funds.
While the apex court faulted the Federal Government for withholding the allocations, it also ruled that the Osun State Government lacked the legal backing to file the suit on behalf of the councils without their explicit authorization.
In its majority judgment, the court held that only duly elected and inaugurated local government officials had the legal standing to initiate such action.
However, a dissenting opinion argued that the Osun Attorney General acted within his powers and criticized the Federal Government’s actions as harmful to grassroots governance.
The latest claims by Wike have reignited debates over political influence, judicial independence, and power struggles within Nigeria’s ruling elite.