Wike Clears Air On Chinda, Says INEC Candidate List Drops In July

According to Ireporter Online, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has dismissed claims suggesting that his preferred candidates for the 2027 general elections in Rivers State have been disqualified by the courts. He urged political actors and commentators to exercise patience until the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) releases the official list of candidates submitted by political parties.

Wike made the remarks while responding to recent political developments in Rivers State, particularly the ongoing controversy surrounding court rulings affecting the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and candidates who emerged from its primaries.

He maintained that speculations about the fate of candidates aligned with his political camp were premature, stressing that only INEC’s official publication in July would clarify the authentic list of contenders. “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 was quoted as saying.

The controversy stems from a court ruling in Rivers State that reportedly reinstated Emeka Beke’s leadership and nullified nominations arising from recent party primaries. The primaries had produced Kingsley Chinda, a known ally of Wike, as a governorship candidate following the withdrawal of Governor Siminalayi Fubara from the race.

Several of Wike’s allies were also said to have emerged as candidates for various legislative positions under the APC ahead of the 2027 elections. However, the court’s decision has deepened divisions within the party, with factions disagreeing over the legitimacy of the primaries conducted under the disputed leadership.

Further complications arose following a reported decision of the Court of Appeal in Port Harcourt, which upheld an earlier judgment nullifying congresses that produced Chief Tony Okocha as APC chairman in the state.

Responding to remarks attributed to Emeka Beke regarding the status of the candidates, Wike dismissed such claims as uninformed, insisting that only INEC has the authority to determine the final list of valid candidates. He advised political actors to remain patient rather than engage in speculation.

Meanwhile, the FCT Minister also addressed concerns over recent protests by teachers following the abduction of pupils and staff in Oyo State. He condemned the incident, describing it as a serious national security concern that demands urgent attention from relevant authorities.

Wike cautioned against politicising insecurity, stressing that the safety of citizens should remain a collective priority rather than a subject of partisan debate. He added that while Nigerians are justified in demanding stronger action from government and security agencies, such tragedies should not be exploited for political gain.