The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has cautioned Catholic bishops against declaring that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is biased, saying such a conclusion could make Nigerians lose confidence in the electoral process.
Wike gave the warning on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, during a media chat, while reacting to comments from the bishops concerning the credibility of Nigeria’s elections.Nigerian Current Events
The former Rivers State governor said influential groups must be careful with sweeping statements about electoral institutions because of the impact such remarks could have on public perception.
“If you come to general conclusions and say INEC is biased, you are sending a signal to the public because they will think, ‘For the entire Catholic bishop to say INEC is biased, then something is wrong,’” Wike said.
He added that such claims must be handled cautiously, stressing that the authority and reputation of religious leaders could influence how Nigerians view the electoral system.
“We must be very careful about it, and that’s why President (Bola Tinubu) said, ‘No, no, you can’t say they are biased,’” he stated.
Wike’s comments come amid ongoing debate over electoral credibility in Nigeria, with concerns being raised by different groups over the conduct of elections and the role of INEC.Government
The FCT minister said criticism of the electoral body should be based on specific issues rather than broad accusations that could weaken public trust in democratic institutions.
He maintained that while concerns about elections could be expressed, declaring INEC biased without clear justification could send the wrong message to citizens.
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