The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has promised a reward of 10 million naira to every FCT councillor who delivers his ward for President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress in the 2027 elections.
Wike made the pledge on Monday at a Rainbow Coalition stakeholders' meeting in Kwali Area Council, attended by traditional rulers, party stakeholders and residents.
"Any councillor that delivers his ward will get 10 million naira reward. Therefore, go and meet your leaders, go and meet your youth groups, go and consult with associations. Let's deliver our ward to Mr President," the minister said.
- The pledge covers councillors who deliver their wards for Tinubu and other APC candidates in 2027
- Wike declared Kwali, Gwagwalada and Abaji "100 per cent for APC" and endorsed Philip Aduda for FCT Senate and Danladi Chiya for Abuja South
- He also promised to review FCT councillors' salaries, after their forum said councillors earn 260,000 naira a month
APC chairman defends the pledge
The APC National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, defended the promise on Channels Television's Politics Today on Monday, arguing it would not amount to vote-buying if the money is paid only after the election is concluded.
"If the money is given after the election has been concluded and the winner has been declared and there's nothing at stake again, if the court has proven and all the legal processes have been followed that you legally delivered your ward by giving you 10 million naira, I don't see it as vote buying, never," Yilwatda said.
Some reports framed the pledge as applying to councillors nationwide, while Channels, Punch and ThisDay reported it in the FCT context of the Kwali meeting. No funding or eligibility framework for the reward was announced at the meeting.
What happens next
The pledge adds to early 2027 mobilisation in the FCT, where the APC is seeking to hold the territory for Tinubu's re-election bid. Whether an official structure for the reward emerges — and how opposition parties and election observers respond — will shape the next chapter of this story.
Credit: Channels Television, Punch and ThisDay reports of November 9, 2026.
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