Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has reiterated his pledge of a N10 million reward to each political ward in Abaji Area Council if President Bola Tinubu wins in the 2027 presidential election. Wike made this statement during a consultative meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) under the Rainbow Coalition, to mobilise support for Tinubu's re-election. The meeting aimed to galvanise support for Sen. Philip Aduda, who is vying for the Senate seat to represent FCT, and Mr Danladi Chiya, gunning for Abuja South Federal Constituency seat.
Wike compared the bounty to football motivation, stating that it is an incentive to make stakeholders work harder to ensure an overwhelming victory for the president. He explained that if the president wins in all the wards in the area council, each of the 10 wards would receive a N10 million reward, amounting to N100 million. The minister described it as an incentive to make stakeholders work harder to ensure a victory for the president.
Wike challenged ward leaders, councillors, and the area council chairman to demonstrate their political machinery rather than relying on empty promises. He made it clear that political relevance and rewards under his leadership would be strictly tied to polling unit results. Wike stated that if a chairman loses his unit and they manage to win his ward, the chairman would not be considered to have won.
Beyond the presidential mandate, Wike urged Abaji residents to support Aduda for the FCT senate seat and Chiya for Abuja South federal constituency. He cautioned voters against repeating past electoral choices, referencing the incumbent senator representing FCT, who he claimed abandoned the territory after getting elected. Wike told the crowd to tell the senator 'Auntie, bye-bye' if they see her, implying that it is time for a change.
The Executive Chairman of the area council, Abubakar Abdullahi, pledged to deliver the 135 polling units to Tinubu, Aduda, and Chiya. Abdullahi declared that Abaji remains a solid stronghold for the ruling party and assured that the council's entire voting block would be mobilised for Tinubu and APC National Assembly candidates. He recalled his past electoral success, securing victory in 133 out of 135 polling units during his chairmanship election.
Abdullahi linked the grassroots commitment to Tinubu's administration and the unprecedented developmental interventions of the FCT minister within the area council. He noted that no sitting FCT minister in history had visited Abaji four consecutive times within a single tenure, which is proof of the administration's deep commitment to rural development.
APC Chairman in the FCT, Ishaku Yamawo, praised Wike for dismantling long-standing partisan animosities across the territory and setting a foundation of unity that transcends party lines, tribe, and religion. Similarly, PDP counterpart Mohammed Dogara commended the minister for extinguishing election-related violence in the region, noting that historically-turbulent zones like Abaji now enjoy peaceful coexistence.
Key points
- FCT Minister Nyesom Wike pledges N10m to each ward in Abaji Area Council if President Bola Tinubu wins in 2027.
- Wike likens the reward to performance bonuses for national sports teams.
- The minister urges Abaji residents to support Aduda for the FCT senate seat and Chiya for Abuja South federal constituency.
