Wike's N10m pledge: Anyone can report him to INEC, police – ex-INEC commissioner

A former National Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Festus Okoye, says the police, the fee, and any involved Nigerian can set off an investigation into the N10m pledge made by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to councillors forward of the 2027 common elections.

Okoye said this on Tuesday throughout a reside look on Channels Television’s Politics Today.

He was requested if anybody can file a petition on the matter if INEC shouldn’t be 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 mentioned.

The pledge, which may quantity to N620 million if all 62 councillors within the FCT qualify, has generated controversy over the boundary between reliable political mobilisation and monetary inducement tied to electoral outcomes.

Wike has, nonetheless, defended the pledge, saying the supply is an incentive for political mobilisation and never vote-buying.

He mentioned he by no means requested the councillors to purchase votes.

But Okoye raised authorized questions over the proposal, citing Section 125 of the Electoral Act 2026, which criminalises sure types of electoral bribery and corrupt inducement.

The provision covers an individual who corruptly makes a present, supply or promise meant to induce one other individual to acquire the return of a candidate to elective workplace or the votes of electors.

Okoye mentioned the truth that the cash would solely be paid after the election doesn’t, by itself, settle the authorized query, as a result of the regulation expressly features a promise or supply.

He, nonetheless, famous that Section 125(3) excludes cash paid or agreed to be paid for real and lawful bills incurred in reference to an election.