Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has dismissed claims that he nominated or discussed with anyone about appointing a chairman for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Wike made the clarification on Tuesday during the commissioning of Access Roads in Sector Centre B, Dakibiyu District, Abuja.
The minister described the reports as “cheap blackmail,” stressing that he is unbothered by such falsehoods.
He also addressed his absence from the recent Council of State meeting where Prof. Joash Amupitan was nominated as INEC Chairman, explaining that he delegated the Minister of State for FCT, Mariya Mahmoud, to represent him due to prior official engagements.
Wike described the insinuations that he boycotted the meeting because his supposed nominee was rejected as “unnecessary propaganda and blackmail,” urging the public to disregard such claims.
Wike said, “Sometime 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 told Mr President that I would not be available because of other engagements we had already put in place. And so, the Minister of State represented the FCT in that meeting.
“That is why we have to be careful when people carry unnecessary propaganda and blackmail. But in spite of those things, be focused; you will achieve your results. They said I did not attend because I was not happy that my own nominee was not taken”.
The Minister’s comments come days after the Council of State meeting, on Thursday, October 9th, 2025, where Prof Amupitan was nominated INEC Chairman, pending his confirmation by the Senate.
Meanwhile, online media platform, Sahara Reporters, stated that rifts between the Minister and President Bola Tinubu had deepened, causing the Minister to boycott the meeting and send the Minister of State in his place.
The report also stated that Wike had allegedly reached out to other Heads of State to boycott the meeting, and reportedly pushed for Justice Abdullahi Muhammad Liman, a justice of the Court of Appeal, to be nominated and appointed as INEC Chairman.
However, Wike insisted that he worked for President Tinubu and that his delivery of projects in the FCT had silenced the critics.
Wike said, “I work for Mr President. Mr. President’s judgment, as far as I’m concerned, in this country has always been how to put this country in the right perspective. Be focused. When you start delivering, the achievement will silence all critics. Today they have nothing again to say,” the Minister stated.
Wike also commended the President for providing the right leadership, which he stated was responsible for the achievements made by the FCT Administration.
“I have always said, when you have the right leadership, you can achieve the expected results. Mr President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Grand Commander of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, has shown the right leadership. People are talking about the achievements we have made. It is because we have the right leadership. When you have the right leadership, you get things right,” he said.
Earlier, the FCT Minister of State, Dr Mariya Mahmoud, described the project as a collective commitment to strengthening the pillars of justice and governance in the nation’s capital.
“This project is about honour, dignity, and institutional pride, providing befitting residences for our esteemed Heads of Courts whose wisdom and integrity uphold the rule of law in the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” she affirmed.
She, therefore, commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whose visionary leadership continues to redefine infrastructure delivery across the nation and particularly within the FCT, just as she applauded the FCT Minister, Barrister Nyesom Wike, for his dynamic leadership, relentless drive, and practical commitment to transforming Abuja’s infrastructure landscape.
WARNING: If You Are Not 18+, Don’t Click The Link Below 👇🫣
https://rayvirtual.com/m3e85u39j?key=f0014e9d9438d5115e4d66e73ca3f04b
Please don’t forget to “Allow the notification” so you will be the first to get our gist when we publish it.
Drop your comment in the section below, and don’t forget to share the post.
Never Miss A Single News Or Gist, Kindly Join Us On WhatsApp Channel:
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vad8g81Eawdsio6INn3B
Telegram Channel:
https://t.me/gistsmateNG
