Wike Defends ₦10m Promise to Councillors, Dismisses Vote-Buying Claims

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has defended his promise to pay ₦10 million to councillors who secure their wards for President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 general elections, dismissing allegations that the offer amounts to vote buying.

Wike made the clarification on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, while responding to journalists during an inspection of ongoing infrastructure projects in Abuja.

The minister said he did not instruct councillors to distribute money to voters in exchange for their support but challenged them to mobilise their communities and demonstrate commitment to the political cause.

“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.

He argued that the proposed payment was an incentive for political mobilisation and electoral performance, rather than an attempt to influence individual voters.

Wike also compared the proposed reward to incentives given to athletes who win international competitions, questioning why a financial reward for political mobilisation should automatically be interpreted as bribery.

The minister criticised media organisations for what he described as inconsistent treatment of political spending, arguing that payments for political advertisements and other campaign activities did not attract the same level of scrutiny.

His comments followed widespread criticism of the promise he made on Monday at a Rainbow Coalition stakeholders’ meeting in Kwali Area Council of the FCT.

At the meeting, Wike told councillors that each would receive ₦10 million if they delivered their respective wards for Tinubu and APC candidates in the 2027 elections.

The promise was directed at councillors expected to mobilise political leaders, youth groups, community associations and other grassroots structures.

Meanwhile, APC National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, also defended the offer during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today.

Yilwatda argued that the money would be paid after the election and the declaration of results, describing it as a reward for performance rather than an inducement to voters.

He maintained that political parties routinely spend money on mobilisation and rejected the suggestion that Wike’s proposal constituted vote buying.

The controversy has raised questions about the distinction between legitimate campaign mobilisation and financial inducements ahead of the 2027 elections.