By Our Correspondent
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, of voter intimidation and interference during the recently conducted Area Council elections in Abuja.
The party alleged that the minister’s presence at multiple polling units while voting was ongoing created an atmosphere of fear and undue influence.
In a statement released shortly after the polls, the ADC criticised what it described as Wike’s unwarranted monitoring of election activities.
According to the party, the minister’s movement around polling stations had the potential to intimidate voters, electoral officials, and party agents. The ADC further argued that as a federal cabinet member with clear political affiliations and not a registered voter in the FCT, the minister had no constitutional role that required him to be present at active polling centres.
The party also linked the reportedly low voter turnout in several area councils to a curfew imposed on the eve of the election. It claimed that the restriction of movement, combined with the visible presence of high-ranking political figures and security operatives, discouraged many residents from participating in the democratic process. ADC representatives alleged that these actions contributed to a climate of voter suppression in parts of the territory.
In addition to concerns about physical intimidation, the party raised alarm over disruptions to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s result viewing portal, known as IReV. The Independent National Electoral Commission is responsible for managing elections and ensuring transparency in Nigeria’s electoral process. The ADC described the temporary inaccessibility of the portal during results collation as suspicious and called on INEC to provide a clear explanation and immediately restore full public access to the system.
The party urged its supporters and election agents to remain calm, vigilant and law-abiding while documenting any irregularities observed during the exercise. It emphasised the importance of transparency and accountability in safeguarding the integrity of local government elections, describing them as a critical foundation of grassroots democracy.
As of the time the allegations were made public, neither Minister Wike nor INEC had issued a detailed response directly addressing the ADC’s claims. Observers noted that while the elections were generally peaceful in many areas, reports of low turnout and isolated concerns about electoral conduct surfaced across parts of the FCT.
The development has sparked renewed debate over the role of political officeholders during elections and the need to protect the independence and credibility of Nigeria’s electoral system.
