Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has defended his promise to give councillors ₦10 million each for delivering their respective wards ahead of the 2027 general elections, insisting that the offer is a reward for political commitment and not an attempt to buy votes.
Wike made the clarification on Tuesday during an inspection tour of ongoing infrastructure projects in Abuja, dismissing criticisms of the proposed incentives and arguing that rewarding political mobilisers for hard work should not be confused with inducing voters.
The minister had reportedly pledged ₦10 million to each councillor who successfully mobilises support and delivers their ward, a promise that triggered concerns over the possibility of vote-buying ahead of the 2027 polls.
Responding to the criticism, Wike said he never instructed the councillors to distribute money to voters in exchange for their votes, but challenged them to demonstrate commitment and produce the expected electoral results.
“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 offer, Wike compared the proposed political reward to incentives given to athletes who win international competitions, arguing that such promises are designed to motivate people to achieve outstanding results.
He cited instances where athletes are promised houses and other benefits for returning from competitions with trophies, questioning why similar incentives in politics should automatically be regarded as bribery.
The FCT minister also faulted sections of the media for what he described as a failure to distinguish between legitimate performance-based rewards and vote-buying. He argued that political parties and candidates routinely spend money on campaign advertisements without attracting similar criticism.
Wike challenged journalists to examine the difference between financial inducements intended to influence voters and rewards promised to political organisers for meeting mobilisation targets.
Beyond the controversy surrounding the ₦10 million pledge, the minister expressed satisfaction with the progress of ongoing infrastructure projects in Abuja, including Interchange Section 2 (ISEX 2), the Southern Parkway and the S1 Road, which incorporates a fire station.
He said the projects were progressing towards completion by December 15, ahead of the January 16, 2027 general elections.
Wike further argued that the infrastructure achievements of President Bola Tinubu’s administration would provide a strong basis for its re-election campaign.
He maintained that his support for Tinubu was driven by the administration’s development agenda rather than party affiliation, insisting that Nigerians who genuinely desire progress should support policies and programmes aimed at national development.
