Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has promised to reward each councillor in the territory with N10 million if they successfully deliver their respective wards for President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general elections.

Wike made the promise on Monday during a stakeholders’ meeting of the Rainbow Coalition in Kwali Area Council, attended by traditional rulers, political stakeholders and residents.

The minister’s media aide, Lere Olayinka, confirmed the development to journalists.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Wike urged the councillors to mobilise political leaders, youth groups and community associations to secure support for Tinubu ahead of the 2027 polls.

“Any councillor that delivers his ward will get N10 million reward,” he said.

He added: “Therefore, go and meet your leaders, go and meet your youth groups, and consult with associations. Let’s deliver our ward to Mr President.”

Wike also endorsed former FCT Senator Philip Aduda for the FCT senatorial seat and Danladi Chiya for the Abuja South Federal Constituency.

Expressing confidence in the political strength of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), the minister said he was convinced that Kwali, Gwagwalada and Abaji Area Councils would deliver overwhelming support for the party.

“I will go to sleep tonight because I know Kwali, Gwagwalada, and Abaji are 100 percent for APC,” he said.

The minister also criticised opposition politicians over their reactions to Thursday’s Federal High Court judgment, which sacked the David Mark-led leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and nullified decisions associated with the party, including its nomination of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as its presidential candidate.

Wike accused opposition figures of applying double standards in their assessment of judicial decisions, arguing that they praised the judiciary when court rulings favoured them but questioned its independence when judgments went against them.

He recalled the opposition’s reaction to an earlier Supreme Court victory involving the ADC, saying the same politicians had described the judiciary as the last hope of democracy.

On the Tinubu administration’s performance in the FCT, Wike maintained that no previous government had done more for the territory.

He highlighted ongoing infrastructure projects across satellite towns, including the construction of more than 270 kilometres of roads, with 95 kilometres located in Kwali Area Council.

Other achievements he listed included the establishment of the FCT Civil Service Commission, the appointment of an FCT Head of Service, financial autonomy for area councils and improvements to infrastructure across the satellite communities.

Wike urged political stakeholders and residents to support Tinubu’s re-election bid, insisting that the administration’s projects and policies provided sufficient reasons for their continued support.

Former Delta State Governor and 2023 vice-presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, has explained his decision to abandon former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and throw his political weight behind President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Okowa, who is now the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial candidate for Delta North, declared that he had “seen the light,” insisting that President Tinubu’s economic reforms and leadership approach convinced him to join the ruling party.

The former governor made the disclosure on Saturday while addressing party supporters at the APC presidential campaign rally in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

According to him, although he contested the 2023 presidential election alongside Atiku on the PDP platform, developments under the Tinubu administration have persuaded him that the President is taking bold steps to rebuild Nigeria’s economy.

“You all know that in 2023 I was on another ticket, but I have seen the light, and I have seen what Mr President is doing for Nigeria,” Okowa declared.

“It is the right thing to be done, and I have long ago crossed to the APC to join hands with Mr President because he is truly building a new Nigeria.”

The former Delta governor argued that Nigeria’s economic challenges were inherited from successive administrations, stressing that Tinubu’s policies were designed to correct longstanding structural problems.

“When the foundation is broken, you cannot do anything. Mr President realises that successive administrations have broken the foundations of Nigeria. And today, we are on the right course because that foundation is being put right,” he stated.

Tinubu’s Economic Reforms Changing Nigeria — Okowa

Defending the administration’s economic policies, Okowa maintained that the reforms had significantly improved revenue allocations to state and local governments, enabling them to meet financial obligations and undertake development projects.

He claimed that the increased availability of funds had strengthened the capacity of subnational governments to pay workers’ salaries, settle pension obligations and execute infrastructure projects.

“Today, our states and local governments are doing so well because Mr President has continued to mobilise resources for various states and our local governments,” he said.

“We no longer talk about people owing salaries; we no longer talk about people owing pensioners. Our local governments are doing projects, our states are doing projects, and we can pay salaries.”

Okowa further praised Tinubu’s economic management credentials, drawing parallels between his achievements as Lagos State governor and his current administration at the federal level.

“Only a man who understands a nation’s economy can do this. The wonders that were done in Lagos are already being done in our country, Nigeria,” he added.

How Atiku–Okowa Presidential Ticket Divided PDP

Okowa’s latest declaration comes against the backdrop of the political crisis that engulfed the PDP ahead of the 2023 general elections.

In 2022, Atiku selected Okowa as his running mate, overlooking former Rivers State Governor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, who had enjoyed the backing of influential stakeholders within the opposition party.

The decision triggered internal disagreements and deepened divisions within the PDP, with some party leaders openly opposing Atiku’s presidential ambition.

Atiku and Okowa eventually lost the February 2023 presidential election to Tinubu, who contested on the APC platform.

In April 2025, Okowa publicly expressed regret over his decision to accept the PDP vice-presidential nomination, arguing that the prevailing political sentiment at the time favoured the emergence of a southern president after the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.

He acknowledged that the PDP’s decision to field a northern presidential candidate contributed to the party’s electoral setbacks, including its defeat in Delta State during the presidential election.

With his latest endorsement of Tinubu, Okowa has further consolidated his political realignment with the ruling APC ahead of the 2027 general elections.

His declaration also highlights the continuing movement of prominent opposition figures into the governing party as political activities intensify ahead of the next presidential election.

President Bola Tinubu has urged Nigerians, particularly voters in Rivers State, to deploy their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) in the 2027 general elections to sustain what he described as progressive economic development and fight poverty.

Tinubu made the appeal on Saturday during the All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign rally at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where he called on eligible voters who were yet to collect their PVCs to do so ahead of the elections.

The President described the PVC as a powerful instrument for determining the country’s political and economic future, urging supporters to use their votes to support his administration’s development agenda.

“It is left for you to use the weapon you have, and that weapon is the PVC. If you have not collected yours, please go ahead and collect it. Please, I beg you, I take God beg. The weapon you have against poverty is to elect progressive development of our economy. That is what I am pursuing,” he said.

Addressing Nigerian youths, Tinubu stressed that the 2027 general elections would largely determine their future, urging them to take an active interest in the electoral process.

“To the youths of Nigeria, I am looking at you. This election is about you, it’s not on me. Your future depends on this election. This progress has no reverse gear,” the President added.

The Rivers rally followed Tinubu’s appearance at an APC campaign rally in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, where Governor Umo Eno pledged two million votes for the President ahead of the 2027 elections.

During the Uyo engagement, Tinubu also approved Eno’s request for the establishment of the proposed Ibom Deep Sea Port, describing the project as a major driver of economic growth and development in Akwa Ibom and the South-South region.

The Port Harcourt rally attracted prominent APC leaders, elected officials and party supporters from Rivers State and other parts of the South-South geopolitical zone.

Those who addressed the gathering and canvassed support for the party included Vice President Kashim Shettima, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Senate President Godswill Akpabio, alongside other APC chieftains.