N10m reward is for political mobilisation, not vote-buying – Wike

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has defended his promise to pay councillors N10m each for delivering their wards to President Bola Tinubu and other All Progressives Congress candidates in the 2027 elections, insisting that the offer is a reward for political mobilisation rather than vote-buying.

Wike said he did not ask councillors to distribute money to voters in exchange for their support but challenged them to work towards securing electoral victories for the ruling party.

The minister stated this in a statement released on Tuesday by his media aide, Lere Olayinka, following criticism of the financial incentive he announced at a Rainbow Coalition stakeholders' meeting in Kwali Area Council on Monday.

“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 argued that rewarding political mobilisers for meeting electoral targets was different from inducing voters with money to influence their choices.

He compared the proposed payment to incentives given to athletes who win international competitions, questioning why political rewards should automatically be interpreted as bribery.

The minister also accused sections of the media of failing to distinguish between financial incentives for political mobilisation and payments intended to influence voters.

He argued that political parties and candidates routinely spend money on campaign advertisements without attracting similar criticism.

At the Kwali meeting, attended by traditional rulers, political stakeholders and residents, Wike had announced the N10m offer while urging councillors to engage community leaders, youth groups and associations.

“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.

He also declared support for Tinubu's re-election bid and endorsed Senator Philip Aduda for the FCT Senate seat and Danladi Chiya for the Abuja South Federal Constituency.

“I don't need to preach to you any longer. The one you are seeing is what you follow, not the one that will give you unfulfilled promises,” Wike said.

He added, “I will go to sleep tonight because I know Kwali, Gwagwalada, and Abaji are 100 per cent for APC.”

The minister also criticised opposition politicians over their reactions to judicial decisions, accusing them of supporting the judiciary when rulings favoured them and questioning its credibility when decisions went against them.

He cited the Supreme Court's decision in a case involving the African Democratic Congress, saying opposition figures had previously described the judiciary as the last hope of democracy when they secured favourable judgments.

“When ADC had a matter in court and won at the Supreme Court, they said, ‘The court is the last hope,’ ‘The court has saved democracy,’ and ‘We know our judiciary will not fail us’,” he said.

“But when they lost a court case, it became: ‘The President is using the court to fight the opposition.’ When it is good for you, the judiciary is clear. When it is bad, you claim they are using it to destroy democracy. What kind of system are we operating?” he queried.

Wike also defended his administration's provision of brand-new Sport Utility Vehicles to first-class traditional rulers in the FCT, dismissing criticism that the gesture amounted to political inducement.

He argued that traditional rulers deserved dignity and appropriate official transportation, questioning why they should be expected to use public transport while government officials enjoyed the use of SUVs.

“You want a first-class traditional ruler to be walking on the road with a stick in hand, taking public buses so they can get hit by a car one day? But you expect Chief Press Secretaries to Governors, Chairmen, and Presidents to ride SUVs?” he asked.

He added, “We will provide for our traditional rulers, and nothing will come out of their complaints.”

The minister further defended the Tinubu administration's performance in the FCT, listing road construction, administrative reforms and financial autonomy for area councils among its achievements.

He said more than 270 kilometres of roads had been constructed across the satellite towns, including 95 kilometres in Kwali.

According to him, several ongoing road projects were nearing completion and would be inaugurated in December.

Wike also cited the establishment of the FCT Civil Service Commission, appointment of an FCT Head of Service, financial autonomy for area councils and improvements to infrastructure as evidence of the administration's achievements.

He lamented what he described as decades of neglect of the FCT, noting that the territory had an estimated population of six to seven million but only one Senate seat and two House of Representatives seats.

“For 50 years, nobody could remember you. The President has changed the narrative, given you your own civil service, allowed you to employ your people, and elevated your traditional stools. You cannot afford to make a mistake in 2027,” he warned.

Wike also promised to examine the salaries of FCT councillors following a complaint by the Chairman of the National Councillors Forum of Nigeria, FCT chapter, Gambo Hamza.

Hamza had disclosed that councillors in the territory earned N260,000 monthly and appealed to the minister to intervene.

The minister maintained that his support for Tinubu was based on the administration's development programmes rather than party affiliation.

He said Nigerians interested in development should support policies and programmes aimed at national progress.
Meanwhile, the FCT APC Chairman, Ishaku Yamawo, commended Wike for bringing political stakeholders together across party lines and promoting development in the territory.

His Peoples Democratic Party counterpart, Mohammed Dogara, also praised the minister's work and pledged support for Tinubu's re-election.

Similarly, Aliyu Baka, speaking on behalf of Rainbow Coalition stakeholders, expressed regret over what he described as the coalition's electoral mistakes in 2023, saying members were prepared to work for victory for Tinubu and other candidates in 2027.