By Sofiat Adenekan-Abdul
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has defended his promise to reward councillors who deliver their wards during the 2027 general elections, insisting that the offer is an incentive for hard work and not an attempt to buy votes.
Wike made the clarification while speaking with journalists during an inspection of ongoing infrastructure projects in Abuja, following criticism of his earlier pledge to reward councillors who mobilise support for President Bola Tinubu.
He dismissed suggestions that the offer amounted to vote-buying, drawing a distinction between rewarding performance and giving money to voters in exchange for their support.
According to him, the promise was intended to encourage political commitment and mobilisation.
“Your son is writing an exam and you tell your son, listen, I want a first class from you. Get a first class. Get a house in New York,” Wike said, explaining that the reward was meant to motivate people to work towards a set target.
He added: “I didn’t tell the world, take this money, go and buy voters. Go and work. Show commitment that you really mean what you are talking about. When you win, come and we are going to reward you.”
The minister also criticised what he described as inconsistent public interpretation of political rewards, arguing that campaign advertising attracts substantial payments without similar scrutiny.
Wike further declared his support for Tinubu, saying his relationship with the President was based on his administration’s development agenda rather than party membership.
“It’s not about politics. Some people have said, oh, I’m not in APC. What you are testing is development of the country. You don’t need to be a party member before you contribute your own quota in the development of the country,” he said.
He also defended the administration’s political mobilisation, insisting that opposition parties were free to campaign in the FCT.
Wike said he would support equal access to campaign facilities, including the sound equipment used during political rallies, for opposition parties.
On the judiciary, he urged political actors to remain consistent in their reactions to court decisions, rather than describing the courts as corrupt when rulings go against them and praising them when decisions favour their interests.
The FCT minister also pointed to ongoing infrastructure projects as part of the administration’s record ahead of the 2027 elections.
He said the FCT was targeting the delivery of at least 10 projects before January 16, 2027, adding that contractors had given assurances on the completion of some projects by December 15.
Wike described the projects as part of what the administration could present to residents as its record of performance.
He also said the number of people employed through ongoing projects and the economic benefits to their families formed part of the administration’s achievements.
