WIKE OFFERS FCT COUNCILLORS N10M REWARD FOR APC VICTORY IN 2027
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By: Hammad Fasasi
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has promised to reward each councillor with N10 million if they successfully deliver their respective wards to President Bola Tinubu and other All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates in the 2027 general elections.
Wike made the pledge on Monday during a Rainbow Coalition stakeholders’ meeting in Kwali Area Council, attended by traditional rulers, political stakeholders and residents.
He urged councillors to intensify grassroots mobilisation by engaging community leaders, youth groups and associations to secure electoral support for the APC in their respective wards.
“Any councillor that delivers his ward will get N10 million 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,” he said.
The minister also declared his support for Tinubu’s re-election bid, while endorsing Senator Philip Aduda for the FCT senatorial seat and Danladi Chiya for the Abuja South Federal Constituency.
Expressing confidence in the APC’s prospects, Wike said he believed Kwali, Gwagwalada and Abaji Area Councils would support the ruling party in the forthcoming elections.
“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 declared.
Wike criticises opposition
The FCT minister also accused opposition parties and political figures of applying double standards in their assessment of judicial decisions.
He criticised opposition figures who condemned court rulings when the outcomes did not favour them, citing the legal dispute involving the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
Wike recalled that opposition figures had praised the judiciary when the ADC secured a favourable decision at the Supreme Court but accused the government of influencing the courts when they lost subsequent 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 asked.
Wike defends SUVs for traditional rulers
Wike also defended his administration’s decision to provide brand-new Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) to first-class traditional rulers in the FCT, following criticism from some political commentators.
Dismissing allegations that the vehicles were political inducements or bribes, he maintained that traditional rulers deserved dignity and adequate support in carrying out their responsibilities.
He questioned why traditional rulers should be expected to rely on public transportation while government officials and political appointees enjoyed official vehicles.
Wike insisted that the administration would continue to provide support for traditional institutions despite the criticism.
FCT infrastructure development
The minister further disclosed that the administration had embarked on several infrastructure projects across the FCT satellite towns, including the construction of more than 270 kilometres of roads, with 95 kilometres completed or executed in Kwali.
He said ongoing road projects across the satellite towns were nearing completion and were expected to be inaugurated in December.
Wike described the Rainbow Coalition as a platform working towards the collective interests of FCT residents, adding that its grassroots structure was helping to bridge political divisions and promote development.
He also highlighted what he described as achievements of the Tinubu administration in the FCT, including the establishment of the FCT Civil Service Commission, appointment of an FCT Head of Service, financial autonomy for area councils and improvements to infrastructure across satellite communities.
The minister lamented what he described as the longstanding marginalisation of the FCT, noting that despite having an estimated population of six to seven million people, the territory had only one Senate seat and two seats in the House of Representatives.
He urged residents to support the administration in the 2027 elections, saying the current government had introduced changes that previous administrations had failed to implement.
Wike promises to review councillors’ salaries
The minister also promised to look into the salaries of FCT councillors following concerns raised by the Chairman of the National Councillors Forum of Nigeria, FCT Chapter, Gambo Hamza.
Hamza had disclosed that councillors in the territory received N260,000 monthly and appealed to Wike to intervene.
Meanwhile, the APC Chairman in the FCT, Ishaku Yamawo, commended the minister for bringing political stakeholders across party lines together and promoting development in the territory.
Similarly, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chairman, Mohammed Dogara, praised Wike’s efforts in the FCT and assured him of widespread support for Tinubu’s re-election.
Speaking on behalf of the Rainbow Coalition stakeholders, Aliyu Baka expressed regret over what he described as the coalition’s electoral mistakes in 2023, adding that the group was prepared to work towards securing victory for its candidates and Tinubu in 2027.
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