I didn’t nominate candidate for INEC chair – Wike

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has vehemently denied media reports suggesting he boycotted last week’s crucial Council of State meeting due to an alleged disagreement over the appointment of the new INEC Chairman. Wike dismissed the claims as “propaganda and blackmail,” asserting that he had no preferred candidate for the high-profile electoral commission job. The escalating row over the Wike Council of State INEC Nominee issue has dominated political discourse since the meeting.

The controversy arose following the Council of State meeting where President Bola Tinubu presented his nominee, Professor Joash Amupitan (SAN), for ratification as the substantive Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Speculation quickly mounted among political partisans that Wike’s notable absence from the meeting was a protest over the selection process.

Wike Addresses His Absence at the Council of State

Speaking at the commissioning of an access road in Sector Centre, Dakibiyu, Jabi District of Abuja on Tuesday, Minister Wike offered a clear explanation for his absence. He stated that he had already informed the President of his prior engagements and sent the Minister of State, FCT, to represent him.

“Sometimes last week Thursday, we had a flag off, and I told the Minister of State, FCT, to represent me at the Council of State meeting. I had already informed Mr. President that I would not be available because of other engagements. But people went out to say I was absent because my nominee was not picked for INEC chairmanship. That is not true. I work for Mr President. His judgment has always been about putting this country in the right perspective,” Wike maintained.

The Political Heat Surrounding the INEC Appointment

The Wike Council of State INEC Nominee dispute, though denied by the minister, highlights the intense political scrutiny surrounding high-level appointments. Critics were quick to link Wike’s perceived political clout to the decision-making process at the highest executive level. This type of rumour-mongering, Wike suggests, is an attempt to sow discord and undermine his work. To understand the statutory role of the body Wike allegedly boycotted, see our detailed guide on the functions of the Nigerian Council of State (Outbound Link: Detailed Functions of the Nigerian Council of State).

The Minister, a prominent figure whose political moves are closely monitored, used the opportunity to address his critics. He labeled the controversy as a desperate attempt by opponents to find fault with his administration, especially as the FCT continues to deliver infrastructural projects.

“Today, they have nothing again to say. They say we are concentrating on roads. I say, cool down. Take it easy. Very soon, they will see us focusing on schools. So, critics have nothing again to say. They wake up in the morning, turn on their television, and it is FCT everywhere. We will keep them busy with more projects,” Wike concluded, firmly shifting the narrative back to his performance in the capital territory.

This incident underscores the intense political scrutiny surrounding the FCT Minister and the strategic significance of the INEC Chairman appointment. Read more about the FCT Administration’s efforts in developing crucial access roads and other projects across the territory on our Internal Link: FCT Project Updates page.