Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has defended his promise to give councillors ₦10 million each for mobilising support and delivering their wards ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The minister insisted that the offer was an incentive for hard work and not vote-buying.

Mr Wike spoke on Tuesday during an inspection tour of ongoing infrastructure projects in Abuja, dismissing criticisms of the proposed reward, arguing that it should not be confused with financial inducements offered directly to voters.

The minister reportedly promised to reward councillors who successfully deliver their respective wards, a statement that sparked concerns about its implications for the electoral process.

However, he maintained that he never asked the councillors to pay voters to secure their support but challenged them to demonstrate commitment through effective political mobilisation.

“I didn’t tell them, ‘Take this money and go and buy votes.’ I said, ‘Go and work. Show commitment. Demonstrate that you really mean what you are talking about. When you win, come and we are going to reward you,’” he said.

To defend his position, Mr Wike compared the proposed incentive to rewards given to athletes who win international competitions, arguing that promises of houses and other benefits are intended to encourage outstanding performance.

He questioned why similar incentives in politics should automatically be regarded as bribery, while criticising sections of the media for failing to distinguish between rewarding political mobilisation and buying votes.

The minister also argued that political parties and candidates routinely spend money on campaign advertisements without attracting similar criticism.

The minister’s comments come amid growing political activities ahead of the 2027 elections as he insisted that political mobilisation should be driven by commitment, performance and the ability to convince voters.

During the inspection tour, the minister also expressed satisfaction with the progress of ongoing infrastructure projects, including Interchange Section 2 (ISEX 2), Southern Parkway and S1 Road, which includes a fire station.

He said the projects were on course for completion by December 15, ahead of the January 16, 2027 general elections.

Mr Wike added that the infrastructure achievements of President Bola Tinubu’s administration would provide a strong basis for its re-election campaign.

He maintained that his support for Tinubu was motivated by development rather than party affiliation, urging Nigerians who desire progress to support policies and programmes aimed at national development.