Wike Defends ₦10m Promise to Councillors, Says Reward Is for Political Mobilisation, Not Vote-Buying
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has defended his decision to offer ₦10 million to councillors who successfully mobilise support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates in their respective wards ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Wike maintained that the proposed financial reward was intended to encourage political commitment and grassroots mobilisation, dismissing allegations that the offer amounted to vote-buying.
Speaking through a statement issued by his media aide, Lere Olayinka, on Tuesday, the minister explained that he had not instructed councillors to distribute money to voters in exchange for electoral support.
According to him, the proposed incentive would be a reward for councillors who demonstrate effective leadership, political organisation and the ability to deliver their respective wards during the forthcoming elections.
Wike drew a distinction between rewarding political organisers for achieving agreed targets and financially inducing voters to influence their electoral choices.
To reinforce his argument, he compared the proposed reward to incentives given to athletes who win international competitions, arguing that recognising outstanding performance should not automatically be interpreted as wrongdoing.
The minister’s clarification follows public reactions to his announcement at a Rainbow Coalition stakeholders’ meeting in Kwali Area Council, where he pledged ₦10 million to each councillor who successfully delivers their ward for Tinubu and other APC candidates in 2027.
He had urged the councillors to engage community leaders, youth organisations and other grassroots groups to strengthen the party’s political presence across their wards.
Wike also criticised what he described as the media’s failure to distinguish between legitimate political incentives and inducements designed to influence voters.
Meanwhile, during an inspection of ongoing infrastructure projects in Abuja on Tuesday, the minister expressed satisfaction with the progress of construction works at Interchange Section 2, the Southern Parkway and the S1 Road project, which includes a fire station.
He projected that the projects would be completed by December 15, adding that the infrastructure development under the Tinubu administration would form part of the government’s case for another electoral mandate in 2027.
Wike further reiterated that his support for President Tinubu was based on his assessment of the administration’s development agenda rather than party considerations.