Wike cautions Catholic bishops against branding INEC biased

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has cautioned Catholic bishops against making broad allegations that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is biased, warning that such statements could erode public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process.

The former Rivers State governor gave the warning on Tuesday during his monthly media chat in Abuja while reacting to recent remarks by Catholic bishops on the credibility of elections in the country. He said comments made by respected religious institutions carry significant weight and should therefore be expressed with caution.

Warning against sweeping allegations

Wike said influential institutions, particularly religious organisations, have a responsibility to avoid making blanket statements capable of undermining confidence in public institutions. According to him, criticism of the electoral process should be based on verifiable facts rather than broad conclusions.

He argued that describing INEC as biased without presenting concrete evidence could create the impression that the electoral body lacks credibility, thereby weakening public confidence in Nigeria’s democratic process.

Religious leaders urged to exercise caution

The minister stressed that religious leaders command enormous respect and influence across the country, making it necessary for them to weigh the implications of their public comments carefully.

“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 maintained that institutions with moral authority should contribute to strengthening democracy by ensuring that their observations are balanced and supported by facts.

Tinubu’s position referenced

Wike also referred to President Bola Tinubu’s reaction to the issue, saying the President had rejected attempts to label the electoral commission as biased without sufficient justification.

“We must be very careful about it, and that’s why President Bola Tinubu said, ‘No, no, you can’t say they are biased,’” the minister stated, adding that such claims could have far-reaching consequences for public trust in elections.

Call for responsible criticism

The FCT minister acknowledged that citizens, civil society organisations and religious bodies have the constitutional right to scrutinise elections and demand accountability from electoral institutions.

However, he insisted that criticisms should focus on identified shortcomings, irregularities or areas requiring improvement instead of making sweeping allegations capable of diminishing confidence in democratic institutions.

Wike noted that Nigeria’s democracy would be strengthened when stakeholders engage constructively and responsibly, urging public commentators to ensure that their remarks encourage electoral reforms rather than discourage citizens’ confidence in the democratic system.

His comments come amid ongoing national conversations over the credibility of elections in Nigeria, with political parties, election observers and civic groups continuing to advocate reforms aimed at improving transparency, accountability and public trust in the country’s electoral process.