The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has reacted to reports surrounding the status of governorship and legislative candidates in Rivers State, calling for calm and urging political actors to await the official publication of candidates by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
Wike dismissed claims suggesting that his preferred candidate for the Rivers State governorship race had been disqualified, advising commentators to be patient until the electoral commission releases its final list in July.
His comments come amid ongoing political tension within the All Progressives Congress in Rivers State, following court rulings that invalidated recent party congresses and primaries in the state. The primaries had produced Kingsley Chinda, a known Wike ally, as the governorship candidate after the withdrawal of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
In addition, several allies of the minister were reportedly nominated as candidates for the APC in upcoming National Assembly and State Assembly elections.
A Court of Appeal sitting in Port Harcourt recently upheld a lower court ruling which nullified the party congresses that led to the emergence of Chief Tony Okocha as APC state chairman, further deepening the leadership dispute within the party structure in the state.
Speaking on the controversy, Wike faulted critics, including Emeka Bekee, accusing them of misinterpreting the legal situation. He insisted that only INEC’s official publication would settle all disputes over legitimate candidates.
“In July, the candidates of the parties will be published by INEC. Let us wait till July. We are tired of hearing from people who have lost out,” Wike said.
On national security concerns, particularly the recent abduction of teachers in Oyo State, the minister expressed sympathy for victims and condemned the incident, stressing that kidnapping cases should not be politicised regardless of where they occur in the country.
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