FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, has defended his promise to give N10 million each to councillors who deliver their wards for President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 elections.
Wike said the money is a reward for hard work and effective mobilization, not vote-buying.
Reacting to criticisms in a statement by his media aide, Lere Olayinka, on Tuesday after inspecting projects in Abuja, Wike said:
> “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 argued that rewarding party mobilizers for meeting targets is different from bribing voters, comparing it to giving houses and incentives to athletes who win competitions.
Wike also faulted the media for misinterpreting his statement and said political parties routinely spend on campaign adverts without being accused of vote-buying.
His clarification comes after backlash over his statement on Monday at the Rainbow Coalition stakeholders’ meeting in Kwali Area Council, where he said:
> “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.”
The minister said infrastructure projects like the ISEX 2, Southern Parkway and S1 Road will be completed by December 15, and that Tinubu’s achievements will speak for his re-election.
He added that his support for Tinubu is based on development, not party politics.