2027: APC speaks on Wike’s N10m reward for delivering Tinubu

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Nentawe Yilwatda, has defended the N10 million incentive announced by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, for political wards in Rivers State that secure victory for President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.

Yilwatda argued that the proposed reward would not constitute vote buying if paid after the election, maintaining that it was intended to recognise political performance rather than influence voters.

The APC chairman stated this on Monday while speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme.

Wike had reportedly promised to reward any political ward in Rivers State with N10 million if it delivered Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.

Reacting to the promise, Yilwatda said the timing of the payment was a critical factor in determining whether the arrangement amounted to vote buying.

He argued that a payment made after the election, when the winner had been declared and all legal processes concluded, could not be regarded as an inducement to voters.

“If the money is given after the election has been concluded and the winner has been declared and there’s nothing at stake again.

“If the court has proven and all the legal process has been followed that you legally delivered your ward by giving you 10 million naira, I don’t see it as vote buying, never,” he said.

He, however, maintained that offering the money before the election to influence voters would amount to vote buying.

“So, but if he wants to do vote buying, he would have said, ‘I’m going to give you 10 million naira, so I use the money to buy votes on election day so they can vote for President Tinubu for me. That’s vote buying,” he added.