3.4.2026
Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike has allegedly allocated plots of land and a $50,000 cash gift to top officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission.
The INEC chairman Joash Amupitan has also allegedly been compromised; he was reported to have used proxies to collect a vast portion of land
According to reports by SaharaReporters quoting sources, 29 senior officials received the largess from the FCT Minister. Those listed include Mrs. Rose Omoa Oriaran-Anthony, Secretary to the Commission; National Commissioners Sam Olumekun, Dr. Ken Ukeagu, Mr. Haruna Mohammed, Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu, Dr. Bala Bila, Prof. Abdullahi Abdu Zuru, Prof. Sani Adam (SAN), Abdulrazaq Tukur Yusuf, Prof. Kunle Ajayi, and Prof. Nwambam Aja; as well as Directors Olawale Ibrahim S., Dr. Binta K. Mohammed, Isah Magaji Gummi, Lawrence Bayode, Victoria Eta-Messi, and six other Directors of the Commission.
The report indicate that the land allocations initially came with Rights of Occupancy (R of O).
“However, due to non-payment of the required Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) fees within the stipulated 21-day period, as required under FCT/AGIS (Abuja Geographic Information System) regulations, the allocations were reportedly revoked,” an insider told SaharaReporters.
Subsequent interventions allegedly included financial assistance to cover the fees or complete waivers, enabling officials to retain ownership without personal cost.
“These steps to revalidate the expired allocations reportedly included either financial support to cover the C of O fees or the possible waiver of such fees entirely, thereby enabling beneficiaries to retain ownership without personal cost,” a source said.
Each plot’s estimated market value is said to exceed ₦180 million.
The FCT Minister and the INEC chairman could not be reached for comments as text messages and calls to their phones went on answered.
The African Democratic Congress and the “Obidient Movement” accused the INEC of working in lock step with the ruling party the All-Progressive Congress to rig the 2027 presidential election. They called on the INEC chairman to step down.