On December 13, 2017, Governor Nyesom Wike hosted a grand event in Port Harcourt to celebrate what he called his “50th birthday.” Friends, political allies, and dignitaries from across Nigeria gathered for the occasion, while several congratulatory messages and advertisements flooded newspapers to mark his jubilee celebration.
Adding to the controversy, Wike’s INEC documents did not include an official birth certificate. Instead, he relied on a sworn affidavit obtained by his brother, Collins Nyele Wike, on October 3, 1986. The affidavit, executed 22 years after Wike’s supposed birth year, declared 1963 as his date of birth. Curiously, the document itself showed signs of tampering, with a handwritten correction made in pen rather than through a typewriter.
A closer review of the affidavit revealed yet another inconsistency. Collins Wike claimed at the time of swearing to the affidavit that he resided in Obio-Akpor Local Government Area. But historical records show Obio-Akpor LGA did not exist until May 3, 1989, which raises doubts about the credibility of the affidavit.
Even more striking is the timing. The same year the affidavit was sworn was when Wike allegedly sat for his West African Examination Certificate (WAEC). If his stated 1963 birth year was correct, he would have been 22 at the time, much older than the average age of 16 to 18 when most students completed secondary education in Nigeria during that period.
In his INEC forms, Wike provided only partial details of his educational history. While he listed the primary and secondary schools he attended, he omitted the dates of graduation. He did, however, include his first degree—a B.Sc. in Political and Administrative Studies obtained from the University of Port Harcourt in 1990. If his declared date of birth were accurate, this would mean he graduated at the age of 27. He also submitted a Law Degree from the Rivers State University of Science and Technology (1997) and his call to bar certificate (1998). Notably, he did not attach the mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate, leaving questions about where or whether he served.
When whispers about his multiple dates of birth began circulating, Wike attempted to downplay the matter by joking at his birthday event: “Who told them I am 50?” His remarks drew laughter and applause from guests but did little to clear the air about his true age.
A post on SaharaReporters’ Twitter account questioning the discrepancy in his birthday celebrations attracted widespread comments, though neither Wike nor his aides provided clarifications. Attempts to reach his media aide, Mr. Simeon Nwakaudu, were unsuccessful.
Meanwhile, the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) seized on the controversy, highlighting that at least three different dates of birth for Wike exist in the public domain. A quick search shows Google lists August 24, 1967, as his date of birth, while Wikipedia records it as December 13, 1967. Both sources point to him being 50 at the time.
Yet, in his own handwriting on INEC forms submitted in 2015, Wike declared March 13, 1963, as his date of birth—a claim backed by the questionable affidavit. These contradictions continue to fuel suspicions about the authenticity of his personal records.
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