A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, has said that 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, depicts the depth of rot that pervades governance in the country.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had earlier called on the Chairman of INEC, Prof. Joash Amupitan, to address allegations of land gift to officials of the commission by the minister.
Recall that INEC National Commissioner for the Federal Capital Territory, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, confirmed the development while denying allegation of receipt of $50,000 by officials of the commission from Wike.
In a statement made available to journalists on Wednesday, Eze said the timing of the land allocations is particularly significant given INEC’s controversial treatment of the leadership dispute within the ADC.
Eze said 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,” he said.
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“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, constitute a serious criminal offence under anti-corruption laws and electoral statutes.”
Eze reminded officials of INEC that under the 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, provides gifts or advantages to electoral officials, such conduct clearly amounts to corrupt inducement or abuse of office.
Eze described the gift as criminal gratification with intent to compromise and corrupt the 2027 elections, calling on the EFCC and the ICPC to quickly intervene.
“With this level of evil, one can easily deduce the madness behind the INEC chairman’s devious acts against ADC,” he said.
