By Muhammed Abubakar, Reporting
THE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to clarify allegations that senior officials of the Commission received land and cash gifts from the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the PDP described the reports as “disturbing and worrisome”, warning that they suggest a possible attempt at institutional capture of the electoral body.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong Essien, alleged that one of INEC’s top officials, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, who serves as Supervising National Commissioner for the Federal Capital Territory, admitted to receiving a land allocation from the minister prior to the recently concluded area council elections.
According to the PDP, the circumstances surrounding the alleged gifts raise serious questions, particularly as other public servants in critical sectors such as healthcare, education and security reportedly do not receive similar benefits.
The party argued that the timing of the allegations has further eroded public confidence in INEC, stressing that the Commission must act swiftly to address the claims.
“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 read.
The PDP maintained that the allegations point to a broader strategy to influence the electoral process, urging INEC to demonstrate transparency and impartiality in both its actions and communication.
It also noted that the Federal Capital Territory Administration had yet to respond publicly to the controversy, despite widespread media reports linking the minister to the alleged gifts.
The opposition party warned that failure by INEC to provide a clear and timely response could further damage its credibility as Nigeria’s electoral umpire.
Emphasising the importance of accountability, the PDP said the Commission’s response would be crucial in determining public perception of its neutrality ahead of future elections.
The party concluded by urging INEC to prioritise openness and restore public trust, insisting that clarity on the matter is essential to safeguarding the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral process.
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