2027: Wike Promises N10m Reward to Councillors Who Deliver Wards

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has promised to give N10 million to each councillor who secures victory for President Bola Tinubu and other All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates in their respective wards in the 2027 general elections.

Wike made the pledge on Monday during a Rainbow Coalition stakeholders’ meeting attended by traditional rulers, political stakeholders and residents in Kwali Area Council.

He urged councillors to mobilise residents, youth groups and community associations to secure electoral support for the APC across their wards.

“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 said.

The minister also declared his 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.

Wike expressed confidence that Kwali, Gwagwalada and Abaji Area Councils would support the APC in the elections, saying he preferred political leaders who delivered on their promises.

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

Wike criticises opposition

The FCT minister also accused opposition parties and political figures of applying double standards in their reactions to court judgments.

He cited the legal proceedings involving the African Democratic Congress (ADC), criticising opposition figures who praised the judiciary when rulings favoured them but accused the government of influencing the courts when decisions went against them.

“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.’

“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 asked.

Wike also defended his administration’s decision to provide brand-new sport utility vehicles (SUVs) to first-class traditional rulers in the FCT, dismissing allegations that the gesture amounted to political inducement or bribery.

He argued that traditional rulers deserved dignity and appropriate recognition, questioning why their use of official vehicles should attract criticism when other public officials also enjoyed similar privileges.

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

The minister further disclosed that the administration had undertaken more than 270 kilometres of road construction across the FCT satellite towns, including 95 kilometres in Kwali.

He said ongoing road projects across the satellite towns were nearing completion and would be inaugurated in December.

Wike added that the Rainbow Coalition was working to promote the collective interests of FCT residents, claiming that its grassroots structure was bringing political stakeholders together to support development and effective representation.

He also listed the establishment of the FCT Civil Service Commission, appointment of an FCT Head of Service, financial autonomy for Area Councils and infrastructure improvements across satellite towns as achievements of the Tinubu administration.

The minister lamented what he described as the historical marginalisation of the FCT, noting that despite its estimated population of six to seven million, the territory had only one Senate seat and two House of Representatives seats.

He said Tinubu had changed the situation by establishing a civil service structure that allowed indigenous residents to secure government employment and by upgrading traditional institutions.

“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,” Wike warned.

Wike also promised to examine the salaries of FCT councillors after the Chairman of the National Councillors Forum of Nigeria, FCT Chapter, Gambo Hamza, raised concerns over their earnings.

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

In his remarks, the FCT APC Chairman, Ishaku Yamawo, commended Wike for bringing political stakeholders together across party lines and supporting development in the territory.

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

Similarly, Aliyu Baka, who spoke on behalf of Rainbow Coalition stakeholders in the FCT, expressed regret over what he described as the coalition’s electoral mistakes in 2023. He said the group was prepared to work towards securing victory for its candidates and Tinubu in 2027.