By James Adamu
Paul Ibe, Special Adviser on Media to former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, has publicly called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to rule on whether Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike’s promise of ₦10 million to local councillors constitutes a breach of the Electoral Act.
In his statement, Ibe questioned whether Wike’s pledge, N10 million to each councillor who “delivers” their ward, with payment tied directly to the election outcome, is a legitimate reward for political mobilisation or an inducement prohibited under Section 125 of the Electoral Act.
He argued that INEC, as the electoral regulator, has a duty to make a public determination on monetary promises explicitly conditioned on electoral results.
The call stems from a public announcement Wike made on Monday, 8 November, at a stakeholders’ meeting of the “Rainbow Coalition” held at the Kwali Area Council.
Addressing councillors, traditional rulers and political stakeholders present, Wike said that any councillor who successfully secured victory for President Bola Tinubu and All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates in their ward would receive a ₦10 million reward.
“Any councillor who delivers his or her ward will get ₦10 million. So go and meet your leaders, meet the youth groups, consult the various associations. Let us deliver our wards for the President,” Wike said at the meeting.
He framed the promise explicitly as part of the Rainbow Coalition’s grassroots mobilisation strategy for the 2027 general election, urging councillors to begin immediately canvassing voters, youth groups and community organisations to ensure APC victory in every ward.
Responding to accusations of vote-buying the following day, 9 November, while inspecting infrastructure projects in Abuja, Wike insisted he had never instructed anyone to buy votes.
He described the N10 million pledge as a “reward for hard work,” likening it to incentives given to athletes who bring home trophies.
“Trophies indeed,” Ibe remarked in his statement, noting the irony that payment depends not on the work of canvassing but on how the ward votes.
Ibe drew attention to Section 125 of the Electoral Act 2026, which covers promises made directly or indirectly to induce a person to corruptly procure votes or secure a candidate’s election.
He called on INEC and relevant law-enforcement agencies to examine the offer and make their findings public.
He further posed two straightforward questions to the Minister: Who will fund the N10 million payments? And what exactly is a councillor expected to do to earn the money?
The Presidency, Ibe added, should also state whether it endorses a cash reward offered in the President’s name and tied to the outcome of a presidential election.
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