₦airaland Forum

The FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, has explained his absence at the recent Council of State meeting, where Prof Joash Amupitan was nominated as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission

The minister stated this during the commissioning of the Access Roads in Sector Centre B, Dakibiyu District, in Abuja on Tuesday.

Wike explained that he had directed the Minister of State, Dr Mariya Mahmoud, to represent him at the meeting, while he attended to previous engagements already put in place, describing reports that he declined to attend the meeting because his nominee for the position of INEC Chairman was ignored 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.

“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 said.

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.

“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.

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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"

Maxymilliano:
.

To the many ignoramuses on this forum, including Lere Olayinka, claiming that Wike is not eligible to attend the council of State meeting, here you have it direct from the horse's mouth

yarimo:
Sahara reporters and bitter Obidients are very good at fake news mteeeew

zero8zero:
He is not eligible, ministers are not a statutory members of council of state. They can only attend if they are summoned to brief the council on a given report. Sit down and learn.

yarimo:
Sahara reporters and bitter Obidients are very good at fake news mteeeew

zero8zero:
Bitter people love fake news

ddippset:
I am sure you know that's not the issue right now.

The point right now is that Wike has confirmed that he was supposed to be there..
So what are you still arguing?

Ofunaofu:
Una go explain tire...

I thought you people said as minister of FCT, he is not qualified to attend the council of state meeting
Now, you have change mouth looking for imaginary Obidients to blame and wail on

“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 said.

ddippset:
Ahn Ahn

Are you alright?

Wike's comment has proven that he was invited to be in attendance!

Whatever his reason for not attending is another topic entirely!

So the issue of whether he's a member of the FEC or not doesn't even arise right now.

Are you this daffft?

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.

zero8zero:
I don't know the type of school you went to.. reading is easy, understanding is difficult, the sad reality of Nigeria educational system.

zero8zero:
This same fake news told you the minister of finance had stroke and was flown abroad but the minister is in the country and never had stroke.

AMINDA:
Are you sure? We wish him a speedy recovery but we will rather believe SaharaReporters who broke the news than Sunday Dare who told us he had amala over the phone with the minister. It's not like this government and its spokespersons are known for their transparency.

yarimo:
Sahara reporters and bitter Obidients are very good at fake news mteeeew

zero8zero:
I don't know the type of school you went to.. reading is easy, understanding is difficult, the sad reality of Nigeria educational system.

ddippset:
I am sure you know that's not the issue right now.

The point right now is that Wike has confirmed that he was supposed to be there..
So what are you still arguing?

Alliswell248:
Another lie from the usual suspect.
They can't disappoint.

Wike by constitutional provision can't attend the meeting.

Maxymilliano:
https://punchng.com/why-i-was-absent-at-council-of-state-meeting-wike/?fbclid=Iwb21leANbUDZjbGNrA1tQNWV4dG4DYWVtAjExAAEe-_5BsUq9t238FB3ITN5sJQoA7v_z6z3jf4FDYQrU68dekWZ6JCS-JxX0nh4_aem_kQySkH6cLBttOoq4OufcMw

Alliswell248:
The point remains that he is not a member.
The report is not true

yarimo:
Sahara reporters and bitter Obidients are very good at fake news mteeeew

zero8zero:
This same fake news told you the minister of finance had stroke and was flown abroad but the minister is in the country and never had stroke.