A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, has condemned the confirmation by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that 29 of its officials received land allocations from the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, describing it as evidence of systemic corruption in Nigeria’s governance.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had earlier urged INEC Chairman Prof. Joash Amupitan to address reports of the land gifts to commission officials by the minister. INEC National Commissioner for the Federal Capital Territory, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, confirmed the allocations while denying allegations that officials received $50,000 from Wike.
In a statement to the media, Eze said the timing of the land allocations is particularly significant given INEC’s controversial handling of the leadership dispute within the ADC. He argued that the purported inducements are clearly intended to influence electoral decisions ahead of the 2027 elections.
“The gratification also paved the way for the corruption Nigerians witnessed in the recent FCT Area Council elections,” Eze said. “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, Eze explained that any attempt by a political office holder to induce INEC officials with gifts, money, land, or other advantages constitutes a serious criminal offence under anti-corruption laws and electoral statutes.
Eze reminded INEC officials that under the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) Act, it is an offence for any public officer to corruptly ask for, receive, or obtain gratification as an inducement or reward for performing or abstaining from performing an official duty. He noted that any person who offers or gives such gratification commits an offence, adding that 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.
Eze described the land gifts as criminal gratification with intent to compromise and corrupt the 2027 elections, calling on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the ICPC to intervene swiftly.
“With this level of evil, one can easily deduce the madness behind the INEC chairman’s devious acts against ADC,” he said.
