The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to publicly clarify allegations that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, secretly offered land allocations and cash gifts to some senior officials of the electoral body.
The opposition party described the development as very disturbing, warning that such reports could further weaken public trust in Nigeria’s electoral system.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, said the reports circulating in the media about the alleged allocations raised serious concerns about the neutrality and credibility of the electoral commission.
According to the party, the allegations first surfaced last week when several media outlets reported that the FCT minister had offered plots of land and other benefits to some senior officials of INEC.
The PDP noted that another report later quoted Mohammed Kudu Haruna, the Supervising National Commissioner for the Federal Capital Territory, as allegedly acknowledging the land gift.
The party questioned why such allocations would be extended to officials working within an institution responsible for conducting elections while professionals in other essential sectors were seemingly overlooked.
It is curious that these land gifts are given to officials in agencies critical to elections, whereas there are other officials in important sectors like healthcare, education, and security whose duties also require them to live in the capital city,” the statement said.
The PDP argued that healthcare workers, teachers, and security personnel—many of whom serve in demanding roles in the nation’s capital—have not been reported to receive similar land allocations.
According to the opposition party, the situation raises questions about the motives behind the alleged gesture and whether it could influence the independence of the electoral body.
The party therefore urged the leadership of INEC to address the matter openly in order to restore public confidence.
Specifically, the PDP called on the chairman of the electoral commission, Joash Amupitan, to clarify whether any officials of the commission received land allocations or financial gifts from the FCT administration.
We hereby demand that the National Chairman of INEC comes clean on these allegations against his top officials and even himself, as he has also been alleged to be a beneficiary,” the statement said.
The party warned that the allegations, if left unaddressed, could deepen public skepticism toward the commission, particularly at a time when confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process remains fragile.
According to the PDP, INEC must demonstrate a high level of transparency and impartiality in both its conduct and public engagements.
The party further stressed that the electoral body must uphold the highest ethical standards in order to maintain its credibility as an independent institution responsible for organizing free and fair elections.
The Commission must remember at all times that it must strive to be, like Caesar’s wife, above suspicion, the statement added.
Political observers say the controversy could add another layer of tension to Nigeria’s political environment as preparations gradually build toward future elections.
Although neither the FCT administration nor the leadership of Independent National Electoral Commission has officially issued a detailed response to the claims at the time of filing this report, analysts note that the matter could generate broader debate about transparency, accountability, and the independence of key democratic institutions in the country.
The coming days are expected to reveal whether the commission will provide clarification regarding the allegations and what steps, if any, will be taken to address the concerns raised by the Peoples Democratic Party.
