ABUJA, Nigeria — Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike has promised a ₦10 million reward to councillors who deliver their wards for President Bola Tinubu.
He made the pledge Monday at a Rainbow Coalition stakeholders’ meeting in Kwali Area Council, where councillors and traditional rulers were present.
Wike said the coalition was mobilising support for Tinubu’s 2027 re-election, and urged councillors to engage local leaders, youth groups and associations.
The promise drew attention because it ties a cash reward to political success in individual wards, although its terms remain unclear.
What Wike Said at the Kwali Meeting
Wike told the gathering he had been given only two minutes to speak when Tinubu attended a recent event.
He said he would now explain the coalition’s mobilisation plan, which he described as an effort operating across the federation.
Addressing councillors, he said anyone who delivered a ward for the President would receive ₦10 million.
He also encouraged them to meet community leaders, youth groups and associations to persuade residents to support Tinubu.
The remarks were made at a Rainbow Coalition meeting in Kwali.
Wike’s aide, Lere Olayinka, confirmed the promise, describing the intended recipients as councillors in the capital.
Other reports described the pledge as applying to FCT councillors, while Channels reported Wike’s wording as referring to councillors “across the country.”
Scope and Conditions from Wike Remain Unclear
Wike’s reference to the Rainbow Coalition “all over the federation” suggests a broader mobilisation effort beyond the meeting’s FCT location.
However, the reports reviewed do not establish whether the ₦10 million offer applies only to FCT councillors or nationwide.
The minister did not publicly explain who would fund the proposed payments or when they might be made.
He also did not define what “delivering” a ward means, including whether it refers to turnout, votes or a winning result.
The distinction matters because the meeting reports describe a political reward, but leave its practical criteria unspecified.
Daily Trust reported that the gathering included councillors representing the FCT’s 62 electoral wards, along with area council chairmen and traditional rulers.
Its report quotes Wike’s remarks at length.
Wike also urged attendees to support Tinubu and other candidates, while presenting the coalition as a grassroots mobilisation platform.
No independent confirmation of a payment arrangement, budget or formal programme accompanied the reports.
Political Mobilisation Ahead of 2027
The pledge comes as political actors begin organising support ahead of Nigeria’s next general election.
Wike, a senior figure in the Peoples Democratic Party who serves in Tinubu’s cabinet, has been a prominent advocate for the Rainbow Coalition.
The coalition brings together politicians and stakeholders from different parties who say they support Tinubu’s re-election bid.
At the Kwali gathering, Wike urged councillors to use their local connections to reach voters and community groups.
He has also backed political candidates for other FCT constituencies, according to coverage of the meeting.
The ₦10 million figure gives the mobilisation appeal a concrete incentive, but leaves open how performance would be measured.
Public statements by political leaders can be scrutinised for their implications, yet the reported remarks alone do not establish that any law was broken.
Any formal assessment would depend on the exact arrangement, its purpose, and applicable electoral law.
Questions About the “Deliver Your Ward” Pledge
The reports provide no details about whether councillors would receive the money personally or whether it would support campaign activity.
They also do not specify whether the promised reward would depend on Tinubu winning a ward or meeting another target.
Wike’s remarks urge councillors to persuade residents, but do not explicitly instruct them to pay voters directly.
That distinction should be preserved when describing the pledge, rather than treating it as proof of vote buying.
The amount, scope and criteria may prompt further questions from voters, election observers and political opponents.
For now, the central confirmed development is Wike’s public offer of ₦10 million to councillors linked to ward-level support.
The Rainbow Coalition or Wike’s office may need to clarify eligibility, funding and how the outcome would be verified.
