Opposition party calls for investigation into claims of bribery and property donations to electoral commission staff

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, is demanding an investigation into allegations that senior Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, officials received land and cash gifts from a minister in President Bola Tinubu's cabinet, citing concerns that such claims could undermine public trust in the electoral system.

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These allegations, which emerged last week and continue to gain attention, have raised significant questions about the independence of INEC at a critical moment in the country's politics, potentially shaping public confidence in future elections.

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In a statement, the party's factional National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Ini Ememobong, expressed concern and urged INEC to address the allegations with full transparency, describing the claims as troubling.

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According to the statement, reports surfaced last week alleging that a minister had offered land and cash gifts to senior INEC staff, a development the party finds disturbing and worrisome, as it appears to be part of a strategy for institutional capture.

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The party questioned why the alleged benefits seemed to be targeted at election officials, while workers in essential sectors like healthcare, education, and security had not received similar considerations, despite the demands of their roles.

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The PDP noted that it had not heard of any land allocations to workers in these other sectors, as they are not directly involved in the election process, and demanded that the INEC national chairman, Joash Amupitan, provide clarity on the allegations against his top officials and himself.

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The party warned that failing to resolve the matter could further erode confidence in the commission and urged swift action to reassure the public of INEC's integrity.

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The PDP emphasized that INEC must strive to maintain transparency and impartiality in its actions, ensuring that these values are not just ideals but are evident in the commission's words and deeds, much like Caesar's wife is expected to be above reproach.