A former National Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Festus Okoye, has said that the police, INEC and any concerned Nigerian can initiate an investigation into the N10 million pledge made by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to councillors ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Okoye made this disclosure on Tuesday during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today.
He was asked whether an individual could petition the relevant authorities over the pledge if INEC failed to initiate action.
Responding, the former INEC commissioner said any suspected electoral offence could be investigated by law enforcement agencies, while INEC could also petition the appropriate authorities and subsequently prosecute an offender where necessary.
“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 INEC can also petition the relevant authorities, and they can cause an investigation, and then the commission can prosecute such an offender,” Okoye said.
Gists9ja recalls that Wike recently pledged to give each FCT councillor N10 million if they successfully deliver their respective wards for President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 general elections.
The pledge could amount to N620 million if all 62 councillors in the FCT meet the condition.
The announcement has sparked controversy, with questions raised over whether the financial reward amounts to legitimate political mobilisation or electoral inducement.
Wike, however, has defended the proposal, insisting that it is an incentive for political mobilisation and not an attempt to buy votes.
The minister maintained that he never instructed the councillors to purchase votes from electorates.
However, Okoye raised legal concerns over the pledge, citing Section 125 of the Electoral Act 2026, which criminalises certain forms of electoral bribery and corrupt inducement.
The provision covers anyone who corruptly makes a gift, offer or promise intended to induce another person to procure the return of a candidate to elective office or influence the votes of electors.
According to Okoye, the fact that the proposed money would only be paid after the election does not automatically remove the pledge from possible legal scrutiny, as the law expressly recognises promises and offers as potential forms of inducement.
He, however, pointed out that Section 125(3) provides an exception for money paid or agreed to be paid for genuine and lawful expenses incurred in connection with an election.
