Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike has pledged to give each councillor N10 million if they deliver their ward to President Bola Tinubu and other All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates in the 2027 general elections.
Wike made the promise on Monday at a Rainbow Coalition stakeholders’ meeting in Kwali Area Council, where he urged residents to support Tinubu’s re-election bid and other APC candidates.
“Any councillor that delivers his ward will get N10 million. Therefore, go and meet your leaders, youth groups and associations. Let’s deliver our ward to Mr President,” he said.
Wike also endorsed Senator Philip Aduda for the FCT Senate seat and Danladi Chiya for the Abuja South Federal Constituency seat. He predicted strong support for the APC across the territory, particularly in Kwali, Gwagwalada and Abaji.
“I don’t need to preach to you any longer. Follow the person whose performance you can see, not the one who will give you unfulfilled promises,” he said.
The minister said the Rainbow Coalition was mobilising support across party lines for Tinubu and other APC candidates. He urged residents to assess the administration on its record, citing infrastructure projects in the FCT’s satellite towns.
According to Wike, more than 270 kilometres of roads are under construction across the territory, including 95 kilometres in Kwali. He said the projects were nearing completion and would be inaugurated in December.
Wike also promised to look into the salaries of FCT councillors after Gambo Hamza, chairman of the FCT chapter of the National Councillors Forum of Nigeria, said they receive N260,000 a month.
The minister defended the provision of new sport utility vehicles (SUVs) to first-class traditional rulers in the FCT, rejecting criticism that the vehicles amounted to political inducement.
He said traditional rulers deserved official recognition and support to carry out their duties.
“Do you want a first-class traditional ruler to walk on the road with a stick in hand or take public buses, while chief press secretaries to governors, chairmen and presidents ride SUVs?” Wike said. “We will provide for our traditional rulers, and nothing will come out of the complaints.”
Wike also accused opposition figures of applying double standards in their reaction to court decisions. He cited a Federal High Court ruling concerning the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential ticket, saying opposition figures had praised the judiciary when it ruled in their favour but criticised it after an unfavourable decision.
“When the ADC had a matter in court and won at the Supreme Court, they said the court was the last hope and had saved democracy. But when they lost a case, they said the President was using the courts to fight the opposition,” he said.
The minister 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 administration’s achievements.
He said the FCT had experienced political marginalisation for decades, despite having an estimated population of six to seven million people and only one Senate seat and two seats in the House of Representatives.
“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,” Wike said.
The minister praised the Rainbow Coalition for bringing political stakeholders together in support of what he described as the interests of FCT residents.
FCT APC Chairman Ishaku Yamawo commended Wike for uniting political stakeholders across party lines and promoting development in the territory.
His Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) counterpart, Mohammed Dogara, also praised the minister’s performance and pledged support for Tinubu’s re-election bid.
Speaking on behalf of Rainbow Coalition stakeholders in the FCT, Aliyu Baka said the group regretted what he described as its electoral mistakes in 2023 and was prepared to work for Tinubu and other candidates in 2027.
