The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has promised a reward of ₦10 million to every councillor who successfully delivers their political ward for President Bola Tinubu and other candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 general elections.
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Wike announced the incentive on Monday, November 9, 2026, during a political engagement with traditional rulers, councillors, political stakeholders and residents in Kwali Area Council of the FCT.
The minister explained that the proposed reward was part of a grassroots mobilisation strategy intended to strengthen political support for President Tinubu’s re-election.
He urged councillors to engage community leaders, youth groups and associations in their respective wards to mobilise support for the President and other APC candidates.
“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,” Wike said.
The announcement places financial rewards at the centre of the minister’s proposed grassroots mobilisation strategy, with the payment tied to councillors’ success in securing electoral support within their wards.
However, the reports did not specify the source of the proposed ₦10 million payments, whether the funds would come from private political contributions or another source, or the mechanism for determining which councillors had qualified for the reward.
Wike also expressed confidence in the APC’s prospects in Kwali, Gwagwalada and Abaji area councils, while urging residents to support Tinubu’s re-election on the basis of development projects carried out under his administration.
The minister endorsed Senator Philip Aduda for the FCT Senate seat and Danladi Chiya for the Abuja South Federal Constituency, presenting the political coalition as a platform bringing together stakeholders from different political backgrounds.
His announcement bears some resemblance to the financial incentive controversy during the 2024 United States presidential election, when billionaire Elon Musk, a supporter of Donald Trump, offered $1 million payments through his political organisation, America PAC, to selected registered voters in battleground states who signed a petition supporting constitutional rights.
Musk’s initiative attracted legal challenges and scrutiny from American authorities over whether the arrangement violated electoral laws. Musk disputed allegations of wrongdoing, and the payments were not presented as direct rewards for casting votes for Trump.
Wike’s proposal differs because the promised ₦10 million would go to councillors whose wards deliver electoral victories for Tinubu and other APC candidates, rather than to individual voters for signing a political petition.
Although both arrangements involve monetary incentives connected to electoral mobilisation, the circumstances and applicable legal frameworks are different.
Beyond the promised financial rewards, Wike addressed concerns about the remuneration and welfare of councillors in the FCT.
The Chairman of the National Councillors Forum of Nigeria, FCT Chapter, Gambo Hamza, had complained that councillors in the territory earned approximately ₦260,000 monthly, which he considered inadequate.
Responding to the complaint, Wike described the remuneration as unacceptable and promised to engage the permanent secretary and relevant administrative offices to examine the existing salary structure.
The minister indicated that he would seek ways to improve the welfare of councillors and address administrative obstacles affecting their remuneration.
He also emphasised the importance of increasing women’s participation in governance, urging political stakeholders to support greater inclusion in decision-making and public administration.
On political representation, Wike questioned what he described as the longstanding marginalisation of the FCT within Nigeria’s legislative structure.
He argued that despite having an estimated population of six to seven million people, the territory had only one senator and limited representation in the House of Representatives.
The minister compared the FCT’s position with that of states having smaller populations but enjoying three Senate seats and considerably more representation in the House of Representatives.
He maintained that the nation’s capital deserved greater political representation to reflect its growing population and development needs.
Wike also defended the Tinubu administration’s record in the FCT, citing the establishment of the FCT Civil Service Commission, the appointment of a Head of Service, financial autonomy for area councils and infrastructure projects across satellite towns.
He said the administration had undertaken more than 270 kilometres of road construction across the satellite towns, including about 95 kilometres in Kwali, with some ongoing projects expected to be inaugurated in December.
The minister urged residents to judge the administration by its development record rather than political promises, maintaining that the improvements recorded in the territory justified continued support for Tinubu.
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