The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has given reasons for his absence at the recent Council of State meeting, where President Bola Tinubu nominated Professor Joash Amupitan as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Speaking during the commissioning of Access Roads in Sector Centre B, Dakibiyu District, Abuja, on Tuesday, Wike said he had informed the President ahead of time that he would not attend the meeting due to prior official commitments. He added that the Minister of State for the FCT, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, represented him at the meeting.
According to him, claims that he deliberately stayed away because his preferred nominee was not chosen for the INEC chairmanship were baseless and part of what he described as “unnecessary propaganda and blackmail.”
“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 Honourable Minister of State represented the FCT in that meeting,” Wike explained.
He cautioned against spreading falsehoods and urged Nigerians to focus on achieving results instead of indulging in political distractions. “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,” he added.
The minister’s clarification comes days after the October 9, 2025 Council of State meeting, during which Professor Amupitan was nominated as INEC Chairman, pending Senate confirmation.
Meanwhile, some online reports had claimed that Wike’s absence was linked to a growing disagreement between him and President Tinubu. The report alleged that he had encouraged other state leaders to boycott the meeting and had supported Justice Abdullahi Muhammad Liman, a Justice of the Court of Appeal, as his choice for the INEC position.
However, Wike dismissed these claims, stressing that his loyalty remained with the President. He maintained that his visible achievements in the FCT were a reflection of the President’s leadership.
“I work for Mr President. Mr President’s judgment, as far as I’m concerned, has always been about putting 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,” he stated.
Wike further praised President Tinubu for providing the right leadership, which, according to him, has enabled the FCT Administration to deliver impactful projects.
“I have always said, when you have the right leadership, you can achieve the expected results. Mr President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, 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,” Wike said.
Okay News reports that the FCT Minister has been one of the most active members of President Tinubu’s cabinet, frequently inaugurating completed projects across the capital city. His absence from such a high-profile national meeting had generated discussions across political circles before his clarification.
