President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has launched an official investigation into alleged corruption and abuse of office by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, following reports that he allocated billions of naira worth of Abuja land to his son, Joaquin.

According to sources at the State House, Mr. Tinubu gave the directive on Thursday night, although final arrangements for the probe were concluded on Friday afternoon.

“The president agreed that the minister’s activity as reported in the media was suspicious and ordered a probe to determine if he had illegally enriched himself,” a presidential aide told DAILY GAZETTE by telephone Friday afternoon.

The probe will be coordinated by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), the official disclosed.

“The SGF’s office would be coordinating the probe, and we encourage anyone who may have seen any wrongdoing in government to always bring such to the attention of the administration,” the official added, requesting anonymity to speak about the matter.

It remains unclear whether Nigeria’s major anti-corruption bodies, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), will be involved. A request for comment sent to the SGF, George Akume, had not been answered as of press time.

Insiders also noted that the probe has not yet been publicly announced because the president is treading carefully to avoid appearing confrontational toward Mr. Wike, who has received praise for his performance in managing federal projects in Abuja.

Nonetheless, prominent anti-corruption campaigner Lanre Suraju has called for a thorough and open process.

“That is most astonishing, but we need to be careful, going by past experiences of camaraderie and solidarity in public office and the president’s several public praises of Mr Wike,” Suraju said.

“Such panels need to make public their process and involve the services of seasoned investigators from law enforcement agencies in conducting investigations, including forensic and CAC registry analysis.”

It was earlier reported that Mr. Wike allocated about 2,082 hectares of land, prime property in Maitama and Asokoro districts, in the name of his son, Joaquin.

Experts estimate the real estate to be worth more than $3.6 billion.

After public backlash, Mr. Wike responded by claiming the land was allocated to Joaq Farms and Estates Ltd strictly for agricultural purposes.

However, he did not clarify that the company is linked to his son.

In his defense, Wike maintained that his actions were legal.

The minister also stated that no laws barred him from granting land rights to his family members.

However, this stance appears to be in conflict with Nigeria’s Constitution.

Article 5 of the Fifth Schedule clearly forbids public officials from using their position for personal enrichment.

When asked whether Mr. Wike would cooperate with the investigation, his spokesperson declined to comment.

President Bola Tinubu has reportedly brokered a peace deal to resolve the political crisis in Rivers State, paving the way for the reinstatement of the suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

However, the governor’s return to office is said to come with strict conditions.

According to a report by The Cable, the resolution was reached during a late-night meeting held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja between President Tinubu and key stakeholders, including FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and other aggrieved parties.

Under the terms of the agreement, Fubara will be allowed to return to office and complete his four-year tenure, but he must not contest for a second term in 2027.

In addition, the deal reportedly grants Wike full authority to nominate all chairpersons across the 23 local government areas in Rivers State.

As part of the settlement, Governor Fubara is also expected to pay all outstanding allowances and entitlements owed to the 27 state lawmakers who are aligned with Wike and were previously suspended from the House of Assembly.

Furthermore, the agreement includes a non-impeachment clause: the lawmakers, once reinstated, will refrain from initiating any impeachment proceedings against Fubara.

The Taraba State House of Assembly has refuted reports suggesting it is planning to remove Deputy Governor Aminu Alkali, who is currently undergoing medical treatment in Abuja.

Addressing journalists in Jalingo on Thursday, the Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Nelson Len, categorically denied the speculation, asserting that no such plan is under consideration by the state legislature.

“We call on the general public to disregard the speculations that the assembly is preparing to declare the deputy governor incapacitated,” he said.

Len assured that Alkali is expected to resume official duties once he fully recovers from his illness, and clarified that none of the three arms of government in Taraba State had initiated any process to remove or replace him.

He emphasized the commitment of the government to support the deputy governor’s recovery.

“Efforts are ongoing to ensure his full recovery and return to office,” he added.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Alkali has been on medical leave since November 2024, prompting concerns in some quarters about the length of his absence and its implications for governance in the state.

Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, the National Chairman of Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), has reportedly stepped down from his position, plunging the party’s headquarters into a state of confusion.

Although details surrounding his sudden resignation remain sketchy at the moment, a senior official within the APC confirmed the development in a brief comment.

“Yes, it is true. He has resigned,” the party official said.

Adding to the growing speculation, sources disclosed that Ganduje’s personal effects were quietly removed from his office at the APC national secretariat earlier in the day.

This action intensified rumors about his exit, although no formal statement had been issued by the party or the former Kano State governor at the time of reporting.

The atmosphere at the APC’s national headquarters in Abuja was described as tense and bewildering, with staff and visitors visibly unsettled by the breaking news.

Many expressed shock at the unexpected turn of events, as Ganduje’s resignation had not been publicly anticipated.

As of press time, the APC is yet to announce a successor or comment officially on the implications of the chairman’s departure.

The State Chairmen of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) have expressed their full support for the suspension of the party’s National Chairman, Alhaji Shehu Musa Gabam, along with two other members of the National Working Committee (NWC), over serious allegations of financial impropriety.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Friday, Femi Olaniyi, Chairman of the Lagos State chapter and leader of the forum of state chairmen, emphasized the need for accountability within the party.

He called on the suspended officials to step aside and allow for an impartial investigation into the allegations leveled against them by the NWC.

“The suspended officials should allow for a thorough investigation into allegations brought against them by the NWC,” Olaniyi stated.

Joined by 22 other state chairmen, Olaniyi underscored the SDP’s commitment to genuine transparency and anti-corruption efforts.

He dismissed suggestions that the move was driven by internal politics or future electoral ambitions.

“The fight against corruption must be genuine and open, as these are very vital in the SDP,” he said.

“The party is very open to a coalition that will liberate Nigeria.”

Reassuring party members and Nigerians at large, Olaniyi clarified that the current shake-up within the party leadership is not related to a political struggle or external influences from other political parties.

“The leadership cleansing in the SDP is not about power play or 2027 or Coalition or APC, PDP or other conspiracy theories but about doing the right thing in the party,” he added.

Earlier this week, on Tuesday, the NWC officially suspended Gabam along with Nze Nnadi Clarkson, the party’s National Auditor, and Uchechukwu Chukwuma, the National Youth Leader.

They are all facing allegations of financial misconduct, including embezzlement, misappropriation, and the diversion of party funds.

According to a statement issued by SDP National Publicity Secretary, Araba Rufus Aiyenigba, the decision to suspend the three officials came after a meeting of the NWC, during which substantial evidence was presented.

“In exercise of its exclusive powers as guaranteed in Articles 19.1, 19.3(i) and 19.5 of the Party Constitution (2022 as amended), the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has approved the immediate suspension of the National Chairman of the Party, Alhaji Shehu Musa Gabam, along with two members of the National Working Committee (NWC), namely, Nze Nnadi Clarkson, National Auditor, and Uchechukwu Chukwuma, National Youth Leader, over grave allegations of gross financial misconduct, embezzlement, misappropriation, and diversion of party funds,” the statement read.

“The decision followed a resolution of a meeting of the National Working Committee (NWC), where overwhelming evidence was presented linking the suspended officials to a series of unauthorised financial transactions, personal enrichment schemes, and movement of funds from the party’s accounts without necessary approvals of the NWC.”

Ahead of the November 8, 2025, Anambra governorship election, two political parties, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Young Progressives Party (YPP), have complied with the N50 million levy imposed by the Anambra Signage and Advertising Agency (ANSAA).

The levy, mandated by ANSAA, is required for political parties and their candidates to display campaign materials, including advertisements and posters, during the electioneering season.

Both the John Nwosu Campaign Organisation representing the ADC and Chief Uzu Okagbue, the YPP Deputy Governorship candidate, paid the fee in full at ANSAA’s headquarters in Awka.

Upon payment, the parties were issued official receipts and certificates by the agency.

While addressing officials during his visit, the ADC candidate acknowledged the rationale behind the levy but raised concerns about its implications on electoral fairness and free expression.

“If by God’s grace I become the governor, such prohibitive laws will be amended with a view to having fair electoral practices, playing level field and political space that does not confer undue advantage to the incumbent office holder,” he said.

In a similar vein, Chief Uzu Okagbue, representing the YPP, reaffirmed his party’s readiness for the upcoming election, describing the payment as a significant and symbolic milestone.

“This payment is our declaration of intent; bold, structured, and uncompromising. It speaks to our integrity, our commitment to due process, and our disciplined approach to governance,” Okagbue stated.

He emphasized that YPP’s campaign would stand apart from the norm, offering voters a compelling alternative rooted in principles and purpose.

“In an era where political engagement is often reduced to noise and improvisation, YPP brings a refreshing difference: a campaign anchored on vision, substance, and service.”

The ANSAA CEO and other senior officials were present to receive the representatives from both parties and commended them for meeting the requirement.

The agency’s levy remains a point of discussion within political circles, especially regarding its influence on smaller parties and electoral inclusivity.

Rivers State’s suspended governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has declared that “peace has returned in Rivers State” following a reconciliatory meeting with FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

“For me, it is very important that this day has come to be. What we need for the progress of Rivers State is peace, and by the special grace of God, and with the help of Mr President and with the agreement of the leaders of the state, peace has returned in Rivers State,” Fubara said late Thursday.

Currently in his third month of suspension, Fubara promised to “do everything within our power to ensure that we sustain it this time around.”

The crisis erupted in March 2025 when President Tinubu suspended Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and the Rivers State Assembly amid a power tussle.

Tinubu also declared a state of emergency and appointed retired Vice Admiral Ibok‑ete Ibas as the state’s sole administrator. The intervention drew sharp criticism but was justified using Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution.

The political feud stemmed from a split between Wike and his former protégé, Fubara, over control of state structures.

A faction of assembly members loyal to Wike, led by Martin Amaewhule, even threatened impeachment.

But after Thursday’s meeting, the three were seen sharing handshakes, smiles, and cordial photographs—signs many are interpreting as a thaw in the deep political freeze.

“We have all agreed to work together with the governor, and the governor has also agreed to work with all of us,” Wike said after the meeting.

Wike, who previously governed Rivers State, emphasized reconciliation:

“We are members of the same political family – yes, just like humans, we all have disagreements, and then you also have the time to settle your disagreements, and that has been finally concluded today. We have come to report to Mr President that this is what we have agreed.”

He expressed gratitude for the breakthrough:

“For me, everything is over and in joy… We have all agreed on everything, so we thank Almighty God.”

This marks the second time Fubara has met privately with President Tinubu following an earlier visit in Lagos.

While the truce signals a possible end to the state of emergency, none of the three leaders Tinubu, Wike, or Fubara spoke publicly after Thursday’s meeting.

Observers are now awaiting further developments: will the suspension be lifted? Will stability return to Rivers State’s governance?