The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has brushed aside criticism over the restriction of movement ahead of the Area Council elections in Abuja, saying the true test of political strength would be seen in the final results of the polls.
Wike spoke on Saturday after touring parts of Abuja to monitor the conduct of the elections. His reaction followed comments linked to the Senator representing the FCT, Ireti Kingibe, who faulted the decision to enforce a curfew from 8 p.m. on Friday, a day before the election.
The minister explained that the order restricting movement from Friday night through Saturday was not taken by him alone. According to him, the directive was approved by the President and was aimed at ensuring a calm environment for the exercise. He said it was unfortunate that his earlier explanation on the issue was questioned without proper understanding.
Rather than engage in a public dispute, Wike said the outcome of the election would show the true political standing of those involved. He maintained that the results would speak for themselves once announced.
While reviewing the exercise, the minister noted that voter turnout followed a pattern seen in previous elections. He observed that participation in the city centre was low, as is often the case in such polls. However, he said many satellite towns recorded better turnout, with more residents coming out to cast their votes.
He linked the low numbers in the city to the nature of off-cycle elections, which usually do not draw large crowds. Despite this, he said the main concern was the peaceful conduct of the process.
Wike commended the efforts of the Independent National Electoral Commission for what he described as professional handling of the exercise. He also praised security agencies for maintaining order across the territory.
According to him, there were no reports of violence or unrest during the polls. He added that the peaceful atmosphere across the FCT showed that the steps taken before the election achieved their purpose.
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