for Delivering Wards to Tinubu in 2027
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has promised a cash reward of N10 million to each councillor who successfully delivers his or her ward for President Bola Tinubu and other All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates in the 2027 general elections.
Wike made the pledge on Monday while addressing stakeholders, traditional rulers and residents at a Rainbow Coalition stakeholders’ meeting in Kwali Area Council of the FCT.
The minister urged councillors to intensify grassroots mobilisation by reaching out to community leaders, youth organisations and other interest groups to secure electoral support for Tinubu.
“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.
Wike, who founded the Rainbow Coalition, said the group was committed to advancing the collective interests of FCT residents, irrespective of political affiliations.
He also criticised opposition politicians over what he described as their inconsistent reactions to judicial decisions, particularly the court ruling that voided the presidential ticket of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
According to him, opposition figures celebrate the judiciary when court decisions favour them but question its independence when judgments go against their interests.
“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 queried.
The minister also defended the FCT administration’s decision to provide brand-new Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) to first-class traditional rulers, dismissing criticisms that the gesture amounted to political inducement.
He argued that traditional rulers deserved dignity and adequate support in the discharge of their responsibilities.
On infrastructure, Wike disclosed that the FCT administration had embarked on the construction of more than 270 kilometres of roads across satellite towns, with Kwali accounting for 95 kilometres.
He said the projects were nearing completion and would be inaugurated in December.
Wike further urged residents to support Tinubu’s re-election bid, insisting that the administration’s achievements in the FCT should influence their voting decisions in 2027.
He also endorsed former FCT Senator Philip Aduda for the FCT Senate seat and Danladi Chiya for the Abuja South Federal Constituency.
The minister expressed confidence that Kwali, Gwagwalada and Abaji would deliver overwhelming support for the APC in the forthcoming elections.
Highlighting what he described as the achievements of the Tinubu administration, Wike listed the establishment of the FCT Civil Service Commission, appointment of an FCT Head of Service, financial autonomy for area councils and improvements in infrastructure across satellite communities.
He also promised to examine complaints concerning councillors’ salaries after the Chairman of the National Councillors Forum of Nigeria, FCT Chapter, Gambo Hamza, disclosed that councillors currently earn N260,000 monthly.
Hamza had appealed to the minister to intervene and review their remuneration.
Meanwhile, the FCT APC Chairman, Ishaku Yamawo, commended Wike for bringing political stakeholders together through the Rainbow Coalition.
His PDP counterpart, Mohammed Dogara, also praised the minister’s performance and pledged support for Tinubu’s re-election.
Speaking on behalf of the coalition’s stakeholders, Aliyu Baka expressed regret over what he described as their political missteps in the 2023 elections, assuring that the group was prepared to work towards victory for Tinubu and other candidates in 2027.
