The minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has said that his promise to gift each councillor in Abuja N10 million if they deliver their wards for President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 elections is reward for political mobilisation.
Wike, who made the clarification while speaking with journalists in Abuja during monitoring of ongoing projects, said the N10 million pledge is not a vote-buying strategy.
On Monday, the FCT minister told councillors to deliver their wards for Tinubu in the 2027 elections and get the cash reward.
Wike made the promise during a rainbow coalition stakeholders’ meeting attended by traditional rulers, political stakeholders and residents in the Kwali area council of the FCT.
Doubling down on his earlier remarks, the FCT minister juxtaposed his promise with a parent’s pledge to purchase a car or house for a child who graduates with a first-class degree from the university.
Wike said he did not ask the FCT councillors to collect money to purchase votes during the elections.
The FCT minister added that reward system is a global practice, noting that politicians in other climes also hand incentives to facilitate political mobilisation.
“It is only trained journalists or reasonable persons who understand the difference between a reward and a bribe,” NAN quoted the minister as saying.
“You tell your son, ‘I want a first class from you. Get a first class, and you get a house or a brand new car.’ Just go and work hard.
“That is what we are bringing. I didn’t say take this money and go and buy voters; I said go and work and show commitment.
“Vote-buying is giving someone money to go and vote for a specific candidate.
“Media houses collect millions for prime-time advertisement slots to let voters know what candidates offer, but when you tell your constituents or party workers you will reward their hard work, critics call it bribery.”
The FCT minister dismissed allegations that opposition parties are not being given the level playing field to campaign due to restriction of access to facilities.
“Who is not allowing the opposition to campaign? I know they held a rally the other day in a state stadium,” the FCT minister said.
“In Rivers, I don’t think anybody has complained to you that we are not allowing them to campaign.
“Let them go to the main stadiums, mobilise, and talk to the people.”
