The North Central All Progressives Congress Forum has rejected calls for the resignation or removal of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, describing them as politically motivated and harmful to development in Abuja.
In a statement on Monday, January 12, signed by its Chairman, Alhaji Saleh Zazzaga, the forum condemned demands for President Bola Tinubu to sack or redeploy the minister.
The statement followed recent remarks by the APC National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru, who had asked Wike to resign and focus on politics in Rivers State after the minister warned him against interference.
Some Nigerians and groups, including the Ijaw National Congress, have urged Tinubu to remove Wike or redeploy him to another ministry.
Reacting, the North Central APC Forum said Wike should be allowed to continue his work in the FCT, noting that development under his tenure has accelerated.
The forum stressed calls for his removal risk derailing progress in Abuja and weakening gains recorded under the Tinubu administration.
Parts of the statement read, “The North-Central All Progressives Congress Forum rejects calls for the resignation of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
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“The minister is performing well in the FCT under an APC administration and we frown at such calls.
“Some people stayed eight years as FCT minister without anything to show for it, but in less than two years Wike has turned the FCT around.”
The forum added, “Wike is somebody that has added value to this administration, especially regarding infrastructural development in the FCT.
“It is offensive and deeply worrisome that party leaders are antagonising him by asking him to resign. We urge the minister to ignore these calls and continue developing the FCT.”
The group also claimed Wike contributed significantly to the APC’s victory in the 2023 presidential election, despite not being a party member.
“None of them calling for his resignation contributed as much as Wike to the emergence of this administration,” the statement said.
The forum emphasised its focus remains on the development of the FCT and the wider North-Central region