Wike Boycotts Council of State Meeting as Tinubu Reportedly Snubs His Preferred INEC Chair Nominee

Tensions within the Presidency have escalated following reports that Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike boycotted Thursday’s Council of State meeting after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu appointed Professor Joash Amupitan as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), allegedly rejecting Wike’s preferred nominee, Justice Abdullahi Muhammad Liman. According to a report by Sahara Reporters, the decision is the latest flashpoint in a growing rift between the two political heavyweights.

Insider sources quoted by Sahara Reporters said Wike viewed the appointment as a personal snub and a sign that his influence within the Presidency had diminished. In protest, he reportedly sent the Minister of State for the FCT to represent him at the meeting. The report further alleges that Wike reached out to several former Nigerian Heads of State, urging them to boycott the session—a move that exposed deep cracks within Tinubu’s political coalition.

The dispute marks a significant downturn in the once-close relationship between Tinubu and Wike, who were initially aligned by political convenience and mutual interest. However, recent developments suggest that the alliance has been steadily unraveling amid growing mistrust, public scandals, and competing ambitions.

According to Sahara Reporters, Wike’s political troubles deepened after human rights activist Omoyele Sowore released documents allegedly showing that the former Rivers State governor owned undisclosed real estate in Florida, USA. The revelations, coming soon after Wike’s return from medical treatment in the UK, reportedly rattled his family and political allies.

In the wake of the exposé, Wike reignited his feud with Rivers State Governor Sim Fubara, his former protégé, and launched a series of combative media appearances. However, his influence began to wane after he publicly threatened Sowore for calling President Tinubu “a criminal.” Sowore responded by publishing more evidence of alleged corruption, sparking public outrage and prompting Tinubu’s advisers to reassess Wike’s position within the administration.

Behind the scenes, Wike had lobbied vigorously for Justice Liman, a Court of Appeal judge, to become INEC Chairman, reportedly securing the necessary clearances from security agencies. But according to Sahara Reporters, mounting skepticism within the Presidency led to Liman’s quiet removal from consideration. Tinubu instead appointed Professor Amupitan, a respected lawyer and legal scholar from the University of Jos, telling close aides that Wike was “too unstable and untrustworthy” to influence the leadership of the nation’s electoral body.

The fallout extended into media management. Tinubu allegedly directed Wike to suspend his regular press briefings, arguing that his combative tone was damaging the government’s image. Wike, angered by the directive, reportedly appealed to Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila, warning that silencing him would “make Sowore too powerful.”

Sahara Reporters also revealed that Wike later approached the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) to amend his asset declaration in a bid to include the foreign properties exposed in the Florida case. Officials, however, informed him that the original records had already been forwarded to the EFCC, leaving him politically vulnerable and increasingly isolated.

The Council of State meeting that Wike boycotted reportedly became a turning point. Sources said that the INEC appointment was not initially on the official agenda, but Tinubu surprised attendees by asking Kogi State Governor Ahmed Ododo to present Amupitan’s name for confirmation. Despite unease among some participants, the Council endorsed the appointment.