ADC Chieftain Accuses FCT Minister Wike of Using Land Allocations to Influence INEC Officials

Eze Chukwuemeka Eze accuses FCT Minister Nyesom Wike of using land gifts to bribe INEC officials. Read about the allegations of 2027 election interference.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 8, 2026, 11:05 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Naija News and Daily Post Nigeria.

Allegations of Institutionalized Bribery in Abuja

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has intensified its criticism of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) administration, with chieftain Eze Chukwuemeka Eze labeling recent land allocations to electoral officials as a clear case of "criminal gratification." Reacting to reports that 29 officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) received land titles in the capital, Eze argued that such gifts from a political office holder like Minister Nyesom Wike constitute a deep-rooted form of corruption. He stated that these actions are not mere administrative gestures but deliberate attempts to undermine the performance of official duties by creating a conflict of interest between the umpire and the governing party.

Verification of Land Gifts Amidst $50,000 Denial

The controversy gained momentum following a confirmation from Mohammed Kudu Haruna, the INEC National Commissioner for the FCT, who acknowledged that land allocations were indeed made to certain commission officials. While Haruna categorically denied separate allegations that officials received $50,000 cash payments from the minister, the confirmation of the land gifts has provided critics with substantial leverage. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had previously challenged INEC Chairman Prof. Joash Amupitan to explain the ethics of his staff accepting high-value real estate from an active political figure, a move the ADC now claims is evidence of a compromised electoral body.

Impact on Recent FCT Area Council Elections

Eze further alleged that the corruptive influence of these land gifts was already visible during the FCT Area Council elections held in February 2026. He argued that the "gratification" paved the way for administrative irregularities that favored the All Progressives Congress (APC). The APC recently secured significant victories in the polls, including the re-election of Christopher Maikalangu in the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC). According to the ADC chieftain, the timing of these land transfers suggests they were intended to "soften" the resolve of electoral officers ahead of both the local polls and the upcoming 2027 general elections.