FCT Council Elections Marred by Intimidation Claims as Nigeria Conducts Multiple Polls
Opposition parties accuse FCT Minister Nyesom Wike of voter intimidation during Saturday's area council elections, while low turnout in urban centers contrasts with peaceful by-elections in Kano State.
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Nigeria's Federal Capital Territory witnessed contentious area council elections on Saturday, with opposition parties accusing Minister Nyesom Wike of intimidating voters, even as by-elections in Kano State and party congresses across multiple states proceeded without major incident.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) lodged formal complaints against Wike's presence at polling centers during the FCT chairmanship and councilorship elections, alleging that his movements disrupted the electoral process. According to Vanguard News, the party criticized "what it described as Wike's movement across polling centres under the guise of monitoring" and urged its agents to document irregularities. The ADC also flagged disruptions to the Independent National Electoral Commission's (INEC) electronic result viewing portal (IReV), raising questions about transparency in the electoral process.
Despite these allegations, Wike defended the elections' conduct, commending what he described as peaceful voting and strong turnout in satellite towns. The FCT Minister's dual role as both the territory's chief administrator and a prominent member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has long generated controversy, with opposition parties questioning whether he can maintain neutrality during elections.
Low Turnout at Nigeria's Political Center
The FCT elections exposed a striking voter apathy in Abuja's city center, where the ruling APC and opposition ADC finished in a dead heat at polling units near the presidential residence. Vanguard News reported that "in a striking display of the low voter turnout characterizing the city center, the ruling All Progressives Congress APC and the opposition African Democratic Congress ADC finished in a dead heat at the very doorstep of the seat of power."
The poor showing in urban areas contrasts sharply with higher participation rates in the FCT's outlying satellite towns, suggesting a growing disconnect between Nigeria's political elite and residents of the capital city. Electoral analysts have attributed urban voter apathy to disillusionment with governance and the perception that local council elections have minimal impact on service delivery.
The competitive nature of the FCT results, particularly in areas close to the presidency, signals potential challenges for the APC ahead of the 2027 general elections. Opposition parties have seized on the weak urban performance as evidence of declining support for President Bola Tinubu's administration in the nation's capital.
Kano By-Elections Praised for Peaceful Conduct
In contrast to the FCT's contentious atmosphere, by-elections in Kano State for the Municipal and Ungogo State Assembly constituencies proceeded peacefully. Governor Abba Yusuf declared that "the era of killing, maiming and disenfranchising voters during electioneering is over," according to Vanguard News. The governor commended INEC and security agencies for ensuring orderly polls.
Channels Television reported that the bye-elections "were held in Kano Municipal and Ungogo State Assembly constituencies to fill vacant seats in the state House of Assembly." The peaceful conduct represents a significant departure from Kano's historically volatile electoral environment, where violence and voter suppression have frequently marred previous polls.
The successful Kano by-elections may serve as a template for improved electoral administration in Nigeria's northern states, where security concerns have often complicated voting. Governor Yusuf's New Nigeria People's Party (NNPP) has sought to demonstrate its commitment to democratic norms following its 2023 victory in the state.
APC Consolidates Through Party Congresses
While elections proceeded in the FCT and Kano, the ruling APC conducted ward and local government congresses across multiple states to strengthen party structures ahead of the 2027 electoral cycle. In Lagos State, party executives emerged through consensus in 20 local government areas, with the Peoples Gazette reporting that "the screening committee and congress monitoring committee sent from the APC national secretariat did a thorough job."
In Delta State, APC founding leader Olorogun O'tega Emerhor hailed the smooth congress in Ughelli North, which produced Hon. Lucky Ofomukoro as the new party chairman. Emerhor expressed confidence that "Deltans will re-elect Tinubu, Oborevwori," according to Vanguard News, linking local party organization to the APC's national electoral prospects.
The consensus-based approach to party congresses in Lagos and other APC strongholds suggests efforts to minimize internal divisions that plagued the party during previous election cycles. However, critics argue that consensus arrangements often sideline grassroots members in favor of party elites, potentially weakening democratic accountability within Nigeria's political parties.
As Nigeria approaches the 2027 general elections, Saturday's multiple polls and party activities highlight persistent challenges in the country's electoral system, including allegations of intimidation, voter apathy in urban centers, and questions about the neutrality of government officials in electoral processes. The contrasting experiences in the FCT and Kano State demonstrate that electoral quality remains uneven across Nigeria's 36 states and federal capital territory.