FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has promised to pay each councillor N10 million if they deliver their wards for President Bola Tinubu and other All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates in the 16 January 2027 general elections.
Wike made the promise on Monday at a Rainbow Coalition stakeholders’ meeting in Kwali Area Council, Abuja, where he urged councillors to mobilise residents, youth groups and community associations ahead of the elections.
“Any councillor that delivers his ward will get N10 million reward. Therefore, go and meet your leaders, go and meet your youth groups, and go and consult with associations. Let’s deliver our ward to Mr President,” he said.
The minister said the reward was part of his grassroots mobilisation strategy and dismissed criticism of the cost of political campaigns, saying his focus was on empowering those working at the community level.
Wike also defended the Rainbow Coalition, which he founded, saying it was established to promote the interests of FCT residents across political divides.
He accused opposition politicians of double standards in their reactions to court judgments, particularly the Supreme Court ruling involving the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
He said opposition figures had praised the judiciary when court decisions favoured them but accused the presidency of using the courts against them when they lost cases.
“When ADC had a matter in court and won at the Supreme Court, they said, ‘The court is the last hope,’ ‘The court has saved democracy,’ and ‘We know our judiciary will not fail us.’
“But when they lost a court case, it became: ‘The president is using the court to fight the opposition.’ When it is good for you, the judiciary is clear. When it is bad, you claim they are using it to destroy democracy. What kind of system are we operating?” he said.
The minister also defended the provision of new Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) for first-class traditional rulers in the FCT, rejecting claims that the vehicles were political inducements.
He said traditional rulers deserved respect and should not be expected to depend on public transport while other public officials used official vehicles.
“You want a first-class traditional ruler to be walking on the road with a stick in hand, taking public buses so they can get hit by a car one day? But you expect Chief Press Secretaries to Governors, Chairmen, and Presidents to ride SUVs?
“Instead of using their platforms to support good things, critics turn it upside down. We will provide for our traditional rulers, and nothing will come out of their complaints,” he said.
On infrastructure, Wike said the FCT administration had constructed more than 270 kilometres of roads across satellite towns, including 95 kilometres in Kwali.
He said the ongoing road projects were nearing completion and would be inaugurated in December.
The minister urged residents to support Tinubu and APC candidates in the 2027 elections, arguing that voters should reward governments based on their performance.
He also endorsed former FCT Senator Philip Aduda for the FCT Senate seat and Danladi Chiya for the Abuja South Federal Constituency.
“I don’t need to preach to you any longer. The one you are seeing is what you follow, not the one that will give you unfulfilled promises. I will go to sleep tonight because I know Kwali, Gwagwalada, and Abaji are 100 per cent for APC,” he said.
Wike listed the establishment of the FCT Civil Service Commission, the appointment of an FCT Head of Service, financial autonomy for area councils and infrastructure development among the achievements of the Tinubu administration.
He said the FCT had been marginalised for decades despite its population, pointing to its representation in the National Assembly as an example.
“For 50 years, nobody could remember you. The president has changed the narrative, given you your own civil service, allowed you to employ your people, and elevated your traditional stools. You cannot afford to make a mistake in 2027,” he said.
The minister also promised to look into the salaries of FCT councillors after the Chairman of the National Councillors Forum of Nigeria, FCT Chapter, Gambo Hamza, said they earned N260,000 monthly and appealed for an increase.
The APC chairman in the FCT, Ishaku Yamawo, praised Wike for bringing political stakeholders together and supporting development across the territory.
His Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) counterpart, Mohammed Dogara, also commended the minister and pledged support for Tinubu’s re-election.
Speaking on behalf of Rainbow Coalition stakeholders, Aliyu Baka expressed regret over what he described as the coalition’s electoral mistakes in 2023, saying members were prepared to secure victory for their candidates and Tinubu in 2027.
Erizia Rubyjeana
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