Wike Dismisses Rivers APC Claims, Defends Remarks On Teachers’ Protest

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has dismissed claims by the Emeka Beke-led faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State that recent Court of Appeal judgments nullified decisions taken by the Tony Okocha-led leadership of the party, insisting that those making such assertions are misinterpreting the court’s ruling.

Wike spoke on Thursday while responding to questions from journalists after inspecting ongoing projects in the FCT ahead of activities marking President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s third anniversary in office.

Responding to a question on the Court of Appeal judgment and the claims by the Emeka Beke faction that it had nullified decisions taken by the Tony Okocha-led APC and sacked candidates produced by the party, Wike described the interpretation of the judgment as erroneous.

According to him, party primaries are conducted by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the APC and not by state chapters.

He explained that the dispute originated from an ex-parte order obtained from a Rivers State High Court to stop a congress for the election of state party officials.

Wike said the APC subsequently appealed against the order, challenging the jurisdiction of the state court, but the Court of Appeal ruled that the High Court had jurisdiction and directed that the matter be returned to the lower court for determination.

“What happened in that matter, as far as I know, is that when the national body said they should conduct a congress to elect state officers, they rushed to the State High Court and obtained an ex-parte order stopping the congress.

“The party appealed, arguing that the court lacked jurisdiction, but the Court of Appeal said the matter should return to the High Court because it had jurisdiction to hear it,” he said.

The minister noted that the substantive matter remains unresolved and would have to be reassigned following the death of the judge who initially handled the case.

He argued that the Court of Appeal ruling neither cancelled party primaries nor invalidated decisions taken by the party’s national leadership.

Wike also took issue with statements suggesting that party officials or candidates had been sacked, maintaining that such conclusions had no basis in the court’s judgment.

On criticisms that his recent comments during an engagement with protesting members of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) in the FCT were insensitive, particularly his assertion that the protest over the kidnapping of teachers was being politicised, the minister stood firmly by his position.

He said he had never suggested that government was unconcerned about insecurity or the plight of kidnapped teachers, stressing that the issue of security affects all Nigerians regardless of profession or location.

According to him, every kidnapping incident should attract national concern whether it occurs in Abuja, Sokoto, Taraba or any other part of the country.

Wike recalled his position during the EndSARS protests when he openly criticised the activities of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) in Rivers State before the nationwide demonstrations gained momentum.

“When I was governor, I was one of those who criticised the activities of SARS. I spoke about what SARS was doing in Rivers State and the atrocities that were being committed. Nobody paid attention then until something happened in Lagos and suddenly everybody became concerned,” he said.

The minister maintained that while government sympathises with victims of insecurity and is making efforts to secure the release of kidnapped persons, security challenges should not be politicised.

He noted that the leader of the protesting teachers himself informed him that teachers had been kidnapped in Abuja and that government acknowledged the concern.

“We appreciate it, we feel for it, and government is doing everything possible to ensure that those kidnapped regain their freedom. But we should not politicise insecurity. That is the point I made and I stand by it,” he said

Wike insisted that he would neither retract nor withdraw his comments, stating that people were entitled to their opinions but that he remained convinced of the correctness of his position.

“I am not going to retract or withdraw anything. What I said, I stand by it. If anybody is not happy, he or she can take whatever action they want to take,” he said.

The minister also addressed reports alleging that the Court of Appeal had invalidated a High Court decision recognising the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) caretaker committee that produced the current National Working Committee (NWC) of the party.

He described such claims as misleading and contrary to the actual decision of the appellate court.

According to Wike, the appeal in question was dismissed, meaning the appellants lost their case.

“You went on appeal and the appeal was dismissed. If an appeal is upheld, it means the court agrees with your arguments. But when an appeal is dismissed, it means you have lost,” he said.

He further explained that the Court of Appeal held that issues surrounding the convention had already been addressed by previous decisions, including judgments of the Supreme Court, leaving no live issues for determination

The minister challenged those claiming victory to present evidence before the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which he noted was a party to the suit.

“If what they are saying is true, let them go to INEC. INEC is a party to the suit. It is not enough to come before the public and make claims that are not supported by the judgment,” he stated.

Wike accused some politicians of deliberately misrepresenting court decisions in an attempt to keep their supporters hopeful after suffering legal setbacks

“These are the kinds of things politicians do when they lose. They keep telling stories to sustain their supporters’ hopes. But the reality is that they went on appeal and they lost,” he said.

The minister also dismissed ongoing political manoeuvres around the emergence of a presidential candidate ahead of the 2027 elections, arguing that individuals seeking elective office should be allowed to speak for themselves

“They say they have a presidential candidate, yet the candidate himself has not spoken. I don’t know when Nigeria got to the point where people start contesting elections on behalf of another person. We are past that stage and should move forward,” Wike said.

The FCT minister’s comments come amid continuing political realignments in Rivers State and growing debates within opposition parties over leadership and preparations for future electoral contests.