[VIDEO] Wike’s ₦10m Pledge: INEC, Police Can Trigger Investigation, Says Okoye

A former National Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Festus Okoye, says the commission, the police and other law enforcement agencies can initiate an investigation into the ₦10 million pledge by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to councillors ahead of the 2027 general elections. Okoye, a lawyer, said this on Tuesday while appearing as a guest on Channels Television’s Politics Today.

He said the absence of action by INEC would not prevent individuals or other relevant authorities from raising concerns or investigating the matter if an electoral offence was suspected. “If INEC is not taking this up, can anyone petition on this matter to say, I think Minister Wike is doing the wrong thing? Is it possible? Oh, definitely, yes,” he said. <span data-mce-type="bookmark" style="display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;" class="mce_SELRES_start"></span> The ex-commissioner added that the state could also initiate action if an offence had been committed, while law enforcement agencies could investigate where they believed there were grounds to suspect a violation.

Mr Okoye said INEC could equally petition the relevant authorities to investigate the matter and prosecute anyone found culpable. Wike had pledged ₦10 million to each FCT councillor who successfully delivers their ward for President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 elections.