Federal Capital Territory FCT minister, Nyesom Wike, has dismissed criticisms regarding election-eve movement restrictions, shifting the focus to the final results as the ultimate arbiter of political influence in the nation’s capital.
Speaking after monitoring the Area Council elections on
Saturday in Abuja, Wike addressed comments credited to FCT Senator, Ireti
Kingibe, criticizing the presidential directive to impose a curfew on the
territory from 8pm on Friday – the eve of the election.
The minister clarified his earlier directives on movement,
which had become a point of contention, noting that the restrictions, spanning
from Friday evening to Saturday, were not a personal imposition but were based
on the approval of the President.
He expressed disappointment that his statements were not
carefully reviewed before being challenged. “I don’t want to join issues. At
the end of the election, when the results come out, then we will know”, he
said.
Assessing the conduct of the polls, the minister observed a
familiar disparity in voter participation. While describing the turnout in the
city centre as traditionally low, he commended the “quite impressive” turnout
recorded in several satellite towns.
He attributed the thinning crowds in urban areas to the
nature of off-cycle elections but emphasized that the overarching success lay
in the absence of instability.
Wike, who spent time interacting with voters on the field,
commended the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC for the
professionalism of its personnel.
He also gave a high rating to security agencies, noting that
no reports of violence had reached his office. “We thank God that everywhere is
peaceful,” he remarked, underscoring that the primary goal of a non-violent
electoral process had been achieved.
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