A former National Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Festus Okoye, says the police, the commission, and any concerned Nigerian can trigger an investigation into the N10m pledge made by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to councillors ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Okoye stated this on Tuesday during a live appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today.
He was asked if anyone can file a petition on the matter if INEC is not taking it up.
“Oh, definitely yes. If an offence has been committed, the state can take it up. If the law enforcement agencies believe that there is a possibility that an offence has been committed, they can take it up, and the INEC can also petition the relevant authorities, and they can cause an investigation, and then the commission can prosecute such an offender,” Okoye said.
#Muktv recalls that Wike had pledged N10 million to each FCT councillor who successfully delivers his ward for President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress in the 2027 elections.
The pledge, which could amount to N620 million if all 62 councillors in the FCT qualify, has generated controversy over the boundary between legitimate political mobilisation and financial inducement tied to electoral outcomes.
Wike has, however, defended the pledge, saying the offer is an incentive for political mobilisation and not vote-buying.
He said he never asked the councillors to buy votes.
But Okoye raised legal questions over the proposal, citing Section 125 of the Electoral Act 2026, which criminalises certain forms of electoral bribery and corrupt inducement.
The provision covers a person who corruptly makes a gift, offer or promise intended to induce another person to procure the return of a candidate to elective office or the votes of electors.
Okoye said the fact that the money would only be paid after the election does not, by itself, settle the legal question, because the law expressly includes a promise or offer.
He, however, noted that Section 125(3) excludes money paid or agreed to be paid for genuine and lawful expenses incurred in connection with an election.
