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.
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.