Group tells INEC Chairman to come clean of alleged land bribe

Group tells INEC Chairman to come clean of alleged land bribe

By Emmanuel Oloniruha

A democratic pressure group, Opposition Watch Nigeria (OWN), has challenged the Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN), to address allegations of a purported land inducement involving the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chief Nyesom Wike.

The group in a statement by its Media Coordinator, Aisha Bello, on Wednesday urged the INEC Chairman to “come clean” regarding reports of a secret meeting and subsequent land allocation in the Asokoro District of Abuja.

The group alleged that the reported inducement was aimed at influencing the Commission’s recognition of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leadership.

It also alleged that the move was intended to frustrate the Turaki-led National Working Committee (NWC) in favour of a rival faction.

“We call on Amupitan to address allegations that he secretly visited the FCT Minister under the cover of night in December 2025.

“It is alleged that during this meeting, he received directives to frustrate the Turaki-led NWC and was subsequently allocated a prime plot of land in the sprawling Asokoro District of Abuja, with a promise that the property would be developed for him.

“Prof. Amupitan must also clarify allegations that this property (the alleged bribe) is part of a “well-oiled deal” driving scandalous efforts by INEC, under his watch, to instigate a crisis within the PDP.

“These efforts involve attempting to recognise and foist a Wike-backed renegade group on the party, in clear violation of the PDP Constitution, the Electoral Act 2022, and the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

“This alleged deal is reported to be the motive behind the INEC Chairman convening a controversial meeting of “PDP Stakeholders,” where he attempted to grant legitimacy to the Wike-backed group over the Turaki-led NWC elected at the party’s National Convention in Ibadan,” it stated.

The group also challenges the INEC Chairman to respond to the allegation that the inducement was part of the attempt to force non-members (who have been expelled by the party) to operate as a National Caretaker Working Committee, an organ it said “does not exist within the PDP Constitution.”

“This action by INEC under Amupitan is clearly aimed at furthering the plot by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to impose a one-party state in our country by exacerbating internal divisions within the PDP and weakening Nigeria’s main opposition party ahead of the 2027 General Elections.

“It is instructive to note that these allegations align with a disturbing pattern of reported land revocations and reallocations used as political inducements or punishments in the FCT under Chief Wike.

“OWN Nigeria asserts that such inducements are aimed at securing INEC’s bias in favour of specific political interests, compromising the Commission’s constitutional neutrality, and systematically weakening opposition forces.

“This land bribe allegation, if true, places a significant blight on the INEC Chairman and the integrity of the Commission itself, requiring a serious investigation and stringent sanctions in the event of culpability”, the group said.

Maintaining that the “sanctity of the ballot depends on the integrity of the referee,” the pressure group tabled three specific demands:

It called for Independent investigation-a transparent inquiry into the alleged “land-for-favours” deal, and Immediate public disclosure of Amupitan’s asset declaration since his assumption of office in October 2025.

The group also called for the chairman’s resignation to safeguard public confidence in the commission’s neutrality.

The allegations come amidst a heated leadership tussle within the PDP, which has seen various factions approaching the courts and INEC for legitimacy.

The Commission had recently recognised a caretaker committee following a court ruling in Ibadan that nullified the party’s November convention—a decision the Turaki-led NWC is currently challenging at the Court of Appeal.