A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, has criticised the alleged allocation of land to officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, describing it as evidence of deep-rooted corruption in governance.
Naijaonpoint reports that Eze made the claim in a statement made available to journalists, reacting to reports that 29 INEC officials received land allocations in Abuja.
The controversy followed an earlier call by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) urging the INEC chairman to address reports that officials of the commission received land gifts from the FCT minister.
Responding to the allegations, INEC National Commissioner for the Federal Capital Territory, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, was reported to have confirmed that land allocations were made to some officials but denied claims that they received $50,000 from Wike.
Reacting to the development, Eze said the timing of the allocations raised serious questions, particularly in light of INEC’s handling of the ADC leadership dispute.
According to him, the alleged inducements could be aimed at influencing electoral decisions ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“The gratification also paved the way for the corruption Nigerians witnessed in the recent FCT Area Council elections,” he said.
Eze argued that offering gifts or benefits to electoral officials could amount to criminal inducement under Nigeria’s anti-corruption laws.
He further stated, “Generally, criminal gratification in public administration refers to the unlawful offering, giving, soliciting, or receiving of benefits in order to influence the performance of official duties.
“In the context of electoral administration in Nigeria, any attempt by a political office holder to induce officials of INEC with gifts, money, land, or other advantages, as the FCT minister has done, constitutes a serious criminal offence under anti-corruption laws and electoral statutes.”
The ADC chieftain further reminded INEC officials that the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) Act prohibits public officers from receiving gratification as an inducement for performing official duties.
He added that anyone offering such benefits also commits an offence.
“If a public official, including a minister like Nyesom Wike, provides gifts or advantages to electoral officials, such conduct clearly amounts to corrupt inducement or abuse of office,” he said.
Eze described the alleged allocations as an attempt to compromise the 2027 elections and called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the ICPC to investigate the matter.
“With this level of evil, one can easily deduce the madness behind the INEC chairman’s devious acts against ADC,” he added.
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