The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to publicly clarify claims that its officials received land and cash gifts from the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
The opposition party also alleged that the Supervising National Commissioner for the FCT, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, had reportedly acknowledged receiving such land allocations.
According to the PDP, these alleged gifts raise serious concerns about neutrality, especially as they may be connected to the electoral process. The party questioned the appropriateness of electoral officials accepting such benefits, stressing that INEC must remain impartial.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, the PDP further claimed that the INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, is also among those who allegedly benefited from the land allocations—an issue it says could undermine confidence in the commission’s ability to conduct credible elections.
The party urged INEC to urgently address the allegations and provide Nigerians with a clear account of the situation, emphasizing the need for transparency and public trust in the electoral body.
The PDP described the reports as troubling, suggesting they point to a possible “land-for-favour” arrangement aimed at influencing key institutions linked to the electoral process. It noted that such allocations appear to favour officials connected to elections, while professionals in other critical sectors—such as healthcare, education, and security—have not been similarly considered.
The party concluded by stressing that INEC must uphold the highest standards of integrity and transparency, ensuring that both its actions and decisions reflect impartiality.
Meanwhile, activist Aisha Yesufu had earlier alleged that some INEC officials were offered as much as $50,000 alongside land incentives, and claimed there were reports suggesting the INEC Chairman faced pressure over related decisions.