FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, has defended his promise to give N10m to councillors who secure victory for President Bola Tinubu in their respective wards during the 2027 general elections.
Wike maintained that the proposed payment was a reward for political mobilisation and hard work, insisting that it should not be regarded as vote-buying.
The minister explained that he never instructed the councillors to distribute money to voters to influence their choices. Instead, he challenged them to work towards securing electoral victories through effective grassroots mobilisation.
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His position was contained in a statement released on Tuesday by his media aide, Lere Olayinka, following an inspection of ongoing infrastructure projects in Abuja.
Wike said the promised money would only be given to councillors who successfully delivered their wards, stressing that the offer was intended to encourage commitment and measurable political results.
He compared the proposed incentive to rewards given to athletes who win international competitions, arguing that promises of houses and other benefits were designed to motivate people to perform better.
The minister questioned why similar incentives in politics should automatically be considered bribery.
He also faulted some media organisations for allegedly failing to distinguish between rewarding political mobilisers and offering money directly to voters in exchange for electoral support.
Wike’s clarification followed criticism of his announcement at a Rainbow Coalition stakeholders’ meeting in Kwali Area Council on Monday.
At the gathering, he promised N10m to every councillor who successfully delivered their ward for Tinubu and other All Progressives Congress candidates in the 2027 elections.
He had urged the councillors to engage political leaders, youth organisations and community associations to secure support for the ruling party.
Meanwhile, during Tuesday’s inspection tour, Wike expressed satisfaction with the progress of ongoing infrastructure projects, including Interchange Section 2, the Southern Parkway and S1 Road, which features a fire station.
He said the projects were expected to be completed by December 15, adding that the achievements of Tinubu’s administration would strengthen its campaign for another term.
The FCT minister further stated that his support for Tinubu was based on the administration’s development efforts rather than political party loyalty.
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