Wike Warns Catholic Bishops Against Bias Claims on INEC

Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and former governor of Rivers State, cautioned Catholic bishops against making broad allegations that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is biased. During his monthly media chat in Abuja on Tuesday, Wike responded to recent comments by Catholic bishops regarding the credibility of elections in Nigeria.

He stressed that influential institutions like religious organizations should express their views with caution, as their statements carry significant weight. Wike argued that criticisms of the electoral process should be based on verifiable facts rather than generalizations.

He noted that labeling INEC as biased without concrete evidence could damage the electoral body's credibility and public confidence in Nigeria's democratic process. Wike referenced President Bola Tinubu's stance, which rejected claims of bias against INEC without sufficient justification.

He acknowledged the right of citizens and organizations to scrutinize elections but insisted that criticisms should focus on specific issues rather than sweeping allegations.