Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has defended his promise of N10 million to councillors who secure electoral victories for President Bola Tinubu in their respective wards during the 2027 general elections, dismissing allegations that the offer amounts to vote-buying or political bribery.
Wike maintained that the proposed payments were intended to reward political mobilisation and performance rather than induce voters to support a particular candidate.
He made the clarification on Tuesday, November 10, while speaking with journalists during an inspection of ongoing infrastructure projects in Abuja.
The controversy followed his announcement at a Rainbow Coalition stakeholders’ meeting in Kwali Area Council on Monday, where he promised to give each councillor N10 million for delivering their ward to Tinubu and other All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates.
The pledge has attracted public attention because of the substantial amount involved and the connection between the proposed financial reward and the electoral outcome expected in each ward.
According to Wike, however, there is a difference between compensating political mobilisers for their efforts and giving money directly to voters in exchange for their ballots.
He argued that the councillors were being challenged to demonstrate their organisational capacity by engaging community leaders, youth groups and associations to secure political support.
Wike compares political reward to incentives for outstanding performance
Explaining his position, the minister likened the proposed payment to rewards offered to individuals who achieve exceptional results in their respective fields.
He cited examples of parents promising children expensive gifts for academic excellence, arguing that such incentives encourage hard work rather than constitute corruption.
Wike also referred to international examples of performance-based rewards, including political mobilisation initiatives associated with American billionaire Elon Musk.
He questioned why financial incentives offered to political organisers should automatically be classified as bribery when similar reward arrangements exist in other sectors.
The minister insisted that he never instructed councillors to distribute money to voters or influence their decisions at polling stations.
He also criticised sections of the media for what he described as inconsistent treatment of political campaign spending, arguing that television stations routinely earn substantial sums from political advertisements.
According to him, campaign publicity and political mobilisation should not automatically be equated with electoral bribery.
Electoral Act raises questions over N10m pledge
Wike’s explanation has not removed the legal questions surrounding the proposed incentive, particularly because the reward is tied directly to electoral victories for a presidential candidate and other APC candidates.
Nigeria’s Electoral Act 2026 provides a framework for determining what constitutes electoral bribery and unlawful inducement.
Section 125 of the Act criminalises corrupt gifts, loans, offers, promises or agreements intended to procure the return of a candidate to elective office or influence the vote of an elector.
The provision also addresses payments made with the intention that the money will be used for electoral bribery.
However, the law recognises payments for legitimate election-related expenses, provided they are genuinely and lawfully incurred.
This distinction makes the circumstances surrounding Wike’s proposal important. The intended beneficiaries, purpose of the payment, conditions attached to it and how the money would be spent could all be relevant in determining whether the arrangement falls within lawful political mobilisation or prohibited electoral inducement.
The announcement alone does not establish that an electoral offence has been committed. That determination would require examination of the relevant facts and application of the law by the appropriate authorities.
Proposed payments could total N620m
The financial implications of the promise have also attracted attention.
An investigation by the International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR) noted that the FCT has 62 councillors across its six area councils.
If all 62 councillors qualify for the promised N10 million each, the total commitment would amount to N620 million.
Calculation: 62 councillors × N10 million = N620 million.
The amount raises questions about the source of the proposed funding, the conditions for determining successful ward delivery and whether the arrangement will be formally documented.
Wike has not provided a detailed breakdown of the funding arrangements in his public defence of the pledge.
Wike insists Tinubu’s performance will drive electoral support
Beyond defending the financial incentive, the FCT minister maintained that the Tinubu administration’s infrastructure projects and development programmes would form the basis of its appeal to voters.
He pointed to ongoing road construction and other infrastructure projects across the FCT, arguing that the activities were creating employment opportunities and improving the livelihoods of residents.
During Tuesday’s inspection, Wike visited projects including Interchange Section 2, the Southern Parkway and the S1 Road, which incorporates a fire station.
He said the projects were expected to be completed by December 15, adding that the administration’s infrastructure record would be central to its political mobilisation ahead of the 2027 elections. Channels Television +1
The minister also rejected allegations that opposition parties were being denied access to public facilities or prevented from holding political rallies.
He challenged opposition politicians to use available stadiums and other public venues to mobilise supporters and present their programmes to voters.
Wike further maintained that his priority was national development rather than partisan disagreements, urging Nigerians to support policies and programmes he believes would advance the country.
The controversy over the N10 million pledge is likely to keep the relationship between political mobilisation, financial incentives and electoral integrity in public discussion as preparations for the 2027 elections gather momentum.
