Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has defended his promise to reward councillors with ₦10 million each for delivering their respective wards to President Bola Tinubu and other All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates in the 2027 elections, insisting that the offer is an incentive for political mobilisation and not vote-buying.
Wike made the clarification on Tuesday, November 10, while responding to journalists during an inspection tour of ongoing infrastructure projects in Abuja.
The minister said he never instructed councillors to distribute money to voters in exchange for their votes but challenged them to demonstrate commitment by mobilising support and securing electoral victories in their wards.
“I didn’t tell them, ‘Take this money and go and buy votes.’ I said, ‘Go and work. Show commitment. Demonstrate that you really mean what you are talking about. When you win, come and we are going to reward you,’” he said.
Wike compared the proposed reward to incentives given to athletes who win international competitions, arguing that governments and organisations routinely promise houses and other benefits to encourage outstanding performances.
He questioned why a financial reward promised to political mobilisers should automatically be interpreted as bribery when similar incentives are offered in sports.
The FCT minister also criticised sections of the media over their interpretation of the promise, arguing that there should be a clear distinction between rewarding political organisers for achieving targets and offering money directly to voters to influence their electoral choices.
He further questioned the scrutiny surrounding the proposed reward, comparing it with payments received by media organisations for political advertisements.
Wike’s defence followed criticism of his announcement at a Rainbow Coalition stakeholders’ meeting in Kwali Area Council on Monday, where he promised ₦10 million to every councillor who successfully delivers their ward for Tinubu and APC candidates in the 2027 general elections.
At the meeting, he urged councillors to engage political leaders, youth groups and community associations to mobilise support for the President.
“Any councillor that delivers his ward will get N10 million reward. Therefore, go and meet your leaders, go and meet your youth groups, go and consult with associations. Let’s deliver our ward to Mr President,” he had said.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICIR) reported that the promise could amount to ₦620 million if all 62 councillors in the FCT deliver their respective wards.
The minister’s statement has generated debate over the distinction between political mobilisation incentives and financial inducements in an election campaign. Wike, however, maintained that the proposed payment was intended to reward political performance rather than influence individual voters.
During Tuesday’s inspection, Wike also expressed satisfaction with the progress of ongoing infrastructure projects, including Interchange Section 2 (ISEX 2), the Southern Parkway and the S1 Road project, which incorporates a fire station.
He said the projects were progressing towards completion by December 15, 2026, ahead of the January 16, 2027 general elections.
According to the minister, the infrastructure projects undertaken by the administration of President Tinubu would provide a strong basis for the government’s campaign ahead of the next general elections.
Wike maintained that his support for Tinubu was driven by the administration’s development initiatives rather than party affiliation, urging Nigerians who desire national development to support policies and programmes aimed at improving the country.
The minister’s comments come as political activities and mobilisation efforts gather momentum ahead of the 2027 general elections.
IBN News — Fearless, Strong & Reliable
