Wike Defends ₦10 Million Reward for Councillors Supporting Tinubu

Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, addressed criticism regarding his ₦10 million incentive for councillors who deliver their political wards for President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 election. During an inspection of infrastructure projects in Abuja, Wike stated he never instructed councillors to buy votes, but rather encouraged them to demonstrate their commitment and effectiveness in mobilizing support.

He emphasized that the money was a reward for political commitment, akin to athletes receiving benefits for winning competitions. Wike criticized media portrayals that conflate legitimate rewards with vote-buying and pointed out that political parties often spend on campaign advertisements without facing similar scrutiny.

He urged journalists to differentiate between financial inducements aimed at voters and rewards for political mobilizers achieving specific targets.