Wike Defends N10m Reward for Councillors, Says It Is Not Vote-Buying

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has defended his promise to reward councillors who successfully mobilise support and deliver their respective wards ahead of the 2027 general elections, insisting that the offer is an incentive for hard work and not an attempt to buy votes.

Wike, who spoke on Tuesday during an inspection tour of ongoing infrastructure projects in Abuja, dismissed criticisms trailing the promise, arguing that there was a clear distinction between rewarding political commitment and offering money to voters in exchange for their support.

The minister had reportedly promised to reward councillors with N10 million each for delivering their wards, a statement that attracted criticism from some quarters over its implications for the electoral process.

However, Wike maintained that he never asked the councillors to give money to voters or induce them to vote for a particular candidate but challenged them to demonstrate commitment through effective 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 buttress his position, Wike compared the proposed reward to incentives offered to athletes who win international competitions, arguing that promises of rewards for outstanding performance are intended to encourage commitment and hard work.

He cited instances where athletes are promised houses or other benefits if they return from competitions with trophies, questioning why similar incentives in politics should automatically be interpreted as bribery.

The minister also criticised sections of the media for what he described as a failure to distinguish between legitimate rewards and vote-buying, arguing that political parties and candidates routinely spend money on campaign advertisements without similar scrutiny.

He challenged journalists to pay greater attention to the distinction between financial inducements designed to influence voters and rewards promised to political mobilisers for achieving set targets.

Wike’s defence came amid broader political discussions ahead of the 2027 general elections, with the minister insisting that political mobilisation should be based on commitment, performance and the ability to convince voters.

During the same inspection tour, he also expressed satisfaction with the progress of ongoing projects, including Interchange Section 2 (ISEX 2), Southern Parkway and S1 Road, which incorporates a fire station.

He said the projects were on course for completion by December 15, ahead of the January 16, 2027 general elections, adding that the infrastructure achievements of President Bola Tinubu’s administration would provide a strong basis for its re-election campaign.

Wike further maintained that his support for Tinubu’s administration was driven by development rather than party affiliation, stressing that Nigerians who genuinely desire progress should support policies and programmes aimed at national development.