The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has defended his proposed N10m reward for councillors who mobilise support for President Bola Tinubu and secure their respective wards ahead of the 2027 general elections, insisting that the offer is an incentive for political mobilisation and not vote-buying.
Wike made the clarification on Tuesday during an inspection of ongoing infrastructure projects in Abuja, where he dismissed criticisms of the financial pledge, arguing that rewarding political mobilisers for their performance was different from inducing voters with money to influence their choices.
The minister had reportedly promised to give each councillor N10m for delivering their ward to Tinubu in the 2027 elections, sparking concerns about the implications of the offer for the electoral process.
Defending the promise, Wike said he never instructed the councillors to distribute money to voters but urged them to demonstrate their commitment through effective political mobilisation.
“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.
To justify the proposed incentive, Wike likened it to rewards given to athletes who excel in international competitions, noting that promises of houses and other benefits are often made to encourage sporting achievements.
He questioned why similar incentives in politics should automatically be regarded as bribery, while criticising sections of the media for allegedly failing to distinguish between legitimate rewards and vote-buying.
Wike also argued that political parties and candidates routinely spend money on campaign advertisements without attracting the same level of scrutiny, urging journalists to differentiate between financial incentives for political organisers and inducements aimed at influencing voters.
The minister’s defence comes amid growing political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections, with his support for Tinubu’s re-election campaign remaining a subject of public discussion.
During the inspection tour, Wike expressed satisfaction with the progress of projects, including Interchange Section 2 (ISEX 2), Southern Parkway and the S1 Road, which features a fire station.
He said the projects were expected to be completed by December 15, ahead of the January 16, 2027 general elections, adding that the infrastructure development under Tinubu’s administration would serve as a basis for its re-election campaign.
Wike maintained that his support for the President was driven by development rather than party affiliation, stressing that Nigerians seeking progress should back policies and programmes aimed at national development.
