The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nentawe Yilwatda, has defended the ₦10 million reward promised by Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike to councillors who secure electoral victories for President Bola Tinubu and other APC candidates in their wards during the 2027 general elections.
Speaking on a television programme on Monday, Yilwatda said the proposed payment was intended as a reward for political performance rather than an attempt to influence voters. According to him, the money would only be disbursed after the elections and the declaration of results.
He argued that political parties commonly provide funds for mobilisation and dismissed suggestions that the pledge amounted to voter inducement.
Yilwatda likened the incentive to rewarding outstanding achievement, stressing that the timing of the payment distinguishes it from vote-buying. He maintained that a reward given after an election has been concluded and the results validated through due process cannot be considered an inducement to voters.
The APC chairman was responding to criticism of Wike’s recent pledge in Kwali Area Council, where the FCT minister promised ₦10 million to each councillor who delivers their ward for Tinubu and the APC in 2027.
When asked directly whether the offer constituted vote-buying, Yilwatda firmly rejected the claim, insisting that it was a post-election reward for political success.
On another political issue, Yilwatda said it was premature to discuss who would emerge as Senate President should the APC retain control of the Senate after the next election. He stated that the decision would ultimately rest with elected senators, rather than the party leadership.
Addressing concerns about reports of election-related violence ahead of 2027, the APC chairman expressed sympathy for victims and reiterated the party’s commitment to free and fair elections. He said no individual should be subjected to violence during the electoral process and stressed that the APC supports peaceful democratic participation.
Wike’s controversial pledge has continued to generate debate, with critics questioning its implications, while party leaders maintain that the reward is a legitimate motivational tool aimed at party officials rather than voters.
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