FCT Minister insists promised incentives are meant to reward political mobilisation and commitment, not induce voters ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has defended his promise to reward councillors with ₦10 million each for successfully mobilising support and delivering their respective wards ahead of the 2027 general elections, insisting that the offer is an incentive for hard work rather than vote-buying.
Wike, who spoke on Tuesday during an inspection tour of ongoing infrastructure projects in Abuja, dismissed criticisms surrounding the promise, arguing that rewarding political mobilisation was different from offering money to voters in exchange for their support.
The minister maintained that he never instructed the councillors to share money with voters or induce them to support any 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 justify the proposed incentives, Wike compared them to rewards given to athletes who win international competitions, arguing that promises of houses and other benefits are designed to encourage outstanding performance.
He also criticised sections of the media for what he described as a failure to distinguish between legitimate rewards and vote-buying, insisting that political parties routinely spend money on campaign advertisements without similar scrutiny.
Meanwhile, the minister expressed satisfaction with the progress of ongoing infrastructure projects, including Interchange Section 2 (ISEX 2), Southern Parkway and S1 Road, which incorporates a fire station.
He said the projects were expected to be completed by December 15, ahead of the January 16, 2027 general elections, adding that the infrastructure achievements of President Bola Tinubu’s administration would strengthen its re-election campaign.
Wike further maintained that his support for Tinubu was driven by development rather than party affiliation, urging Nigerians who desire national progress to support policies and programmes aimed at development.