{
  "id": 19327020,
  "title": "Wike defends N10m promise to councillors, dismisses vote-buying claims",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/10/wike-defends-n10m-promise-to-councillors-dismisses-vote-buying-claims",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-10T12:06:51.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Punch Nigeria",
    "slug": "punch-nigeria",
    "url": "https://punchng.com/wike-defends-n10m-promise-to-councillors-dismisses-vote-buying-claims/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike has defended his promise to provide N10 million to councillors who deliver their wards to President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general elections. Speaking on Tuesday during an inspection of infrastructure projects in Abuja, Wike stated that the money is a reward for political mobilisation rather than an attempt to buy votes.\n\nAccording to Daily Post Nigeria, Wike clarified that he did not instruct councillors to use the funds to induce voters, but instead challenged them to work hard to convince residents to support the President. He noted that the offer is part of the Rainbow Coalition's grassroots mobilisation strategy.\n\nWike compared the arrangement to rewards given to athletes who win international trophies. The N10 million offer was originally announced on Monday during a meeting with councillors, traditional leaders, and political stakeholders in the Kwali Area Council.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}