The (HURIWA) has accused the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), , of undermining the credibility of Saturday’s Area Council elections in Abuja, alleging actions that contributed to low voter turnout and compromised public confidence in the process.
In a statement issued on Sunday and signed by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko, the pro-democracy group condemned what it described as “anti-democratic measures” taken before and during the February 21 poll. HURIWA specifically criticised the imposition of a curfew from 8 p.m. on Friday to 6 p.m. on Saturday, arguing that the restriction limited voters’ ability to access polling units across the FCT.
The group further alleged that the heavy deployment of military and police personnel around polling areas created an atmosphere of intimidation that discouraged participation. It claimed that the combination of movement restrictions and visible security presence disrupted what it described as a historically peaceful local council electoral process in the territory.
HURIWA also expressed concern over remarks attributed to Wike during a campaign rally in Apo District in support of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) chairmanship seat. According to the group, the minister’s comments — in which he urged supporters to “do your own on Saturday and leave the other ones for me” — raised questions about neutrality and may have contributed to voter apathy.
The civil rights organisation criticised the perceived silence of President , describing him as the constitutional political head of the FCT. It argued that the president should ensure that all appointees operate within the bounds of the law and respect citizens’ constitutional rights.
HURIWA also faulted the (INEC), accusing the electoral body of failing to publicly address concerns arising from the minister’s pre-election statements and the security arrangements during the poll. The group called for greater transparency and reaffirmation of INEC’s independence in managing elections.
Residents of the FCT voted on February 21 to elect chairmen for the six Area Councils — Abaji, AMAC, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje and Kwali — as well as councillors across 62 wards.
As of press time, neither the FCT Administration nor INEC had issued an official response to the allegations raised by HURIWA.
The organisation called for a review of the circumstances surrounding the election and urged relevant authorities to safeguard democratic standards in future polls within the Federal Capital Territory.
