The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has dismissed criticisms surrounding the election-eve movement restrictions imposed ahead of the Area Council elections, insisting that the final results would ultimately determine political relevance in Abuja.
Wike spoke on Saturday after monitoring the elections across parts of the FCT, responding to comments attributed to the FCT Senator, Ireti Kingibe, who had criticised the directive approving a curfew from 8:00 p.m. on Friday, the eve of the polls.
Clarifying the controversy, the minister stated that the movement restriction was not his personal decision but one taken with the approval of the President. He expressed disappointment that his position was being challenged without due consideration of the facts, stressing that the directive was aimed at ensuring a peaceful electoral environment.
“I don’t want to join issues. At the end of the election, when the results come out, then we will know,” Wike said, suggesting that electoral outcomes, rather than pre-election arguments, would reveal the true political standing of actors in the nation’s capital.
Assessing the conduct of the polls, Wike noted a familiar pattern in voter turnout across the territory. He described participation in the city centre as typically low, especially during off-cycle elections, but commended what he termed a “quite impressive” turnout in several satellite towns.
According to him, lower turnout in urban areas should not be misconstrued, as it reflects a long-standing trend associated with non-general elections. He emphasised that the most important achievement of the exercise was the absence of violence or major disruptions.
The minister, who interacted with voters and officials during his monitoring exercise, praised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for what he described as the professionalism of its personnel. He also commended security agencies for maintaining peace and order throughout the process.
“We thank God that everywhere is peaceful,” Wike said, stressing that the primary objective of the election was a calm and non-violent process, which, according to him, had largely been achieved across the Federal Capital Territory.
