The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has defended the reported plan to reward councillors with ₦10 million each for delivering their respective wards to President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general elections.
Wike reportedly compared the proposed incentive to rewarding footballers for scoring goals, arguing that political officeholders and party supporters should also be recognised for delivering results during an election.
Speaking during an inspection of ongoing infrastructure projects in Abuja on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, Wike dismissed allegations that the promise amounted to vote-buying.
He explained that the money was intended to motivate councillors to mobilise political support and secure electoral victories, not to distribute cash to voters in exchange for their votes.
The minister reportedly made the comparison with football incentives, noting that Nigerian players are sometimes promised financial rewards for scoring goals or winning matches as a way of motivating them to perform.
Wike had announced the ₦10 million reward at a Rainbow Coalition stakeholders’ meeting in Kwali Area Council on Monday, November 9, urging councillors to engage community leaders, youth groups and associations to secure support for Tinubu.
The announcement has generated public debate, with critics questioning the appropriateness of promising financial rewards tied to electoral outcomes ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Wike, however, maintained that the proposed incentive was a reward for political performance rather than an attempt to influence voters.
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