By Ayodele Oni

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has stated that restriction of movement due to the area council election at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) will compromise the outcome of the poll.

The party expressed grave concern over the declaration of what it described as a premature curfew in the Federal Capital Territory ahead of Saturday’s Area Council elections.

According to the party, the decision to impose movement restrictions from 8:00 p.m. on Friday, as announced by the FCT administration under the leadership of Nyesom Wike, raises serious questions about the commitment of authorities to ensuring a free, fair, and credible electoral process.

ADC pointed out that while limited restrictions on movement on election day may be understandable for security and logistical reasons, the established democratic practice is for such measures to commence at midnight on the day of the election — not several hours before.

The party warned that imposing a curfew a day before the polls could significantly disrupt voter movement, discourage participation, and create an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty among residents of the Federal Capital Territory.

The ADC stated that elections must be conducted in an environment that is not only secure but also visibly open, transparent, and accessible to all eligible voters.

Abuja residents, the party stressed, must be able to travel safely to their polling units, remain there until the voting process is concluded, and return home without harassment, intimidation, or arbitrary restrictions.

The party therefore registered its strong objection to what it described as a premature and unjustified restriction on movement and called on the authorities to immediately review the decision in the interest of democracy and public confidence in the electoral process.

The ADC reaffirmed its commitment to peaceful participation in the electoral process and urged security agencies to act professionally, impartially, and in strict accordance with the law.

By Ayodele Oni

The Senator representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Ireti Kingibe, has described restriction of movement due to Saturday’s election by the Minister, Nyesome Wike as authoritarian.

The senator, who accused the minister of not carrying along stakeholders, called for a review or suspension of the movement restriction imposed ahead of the FCT Local Government elections.

Wike had declared Friday a work-free day and announced a restriction of movement from 8 pm on Friday till 6 pm Saturday in preparation for the FCT Local Council elections scheduled for tomorrow.

Reacting in a statement signed by her Special Assistant on Media, Matilda Duncan, Senator Kingibe strongly condemned what she described as the unilateral imposition of a curfew, characterising the minister’s action as “authoritarian, ill-considered, and unacceptable in a democratic society.”

The Senator stated unequivocally that the decision to impose a curfew across the Federal Capital Territory, without broad consultation with critical stakeholders, is a direct affront to democratic governance and the constitutional rights of residents.

“The people of the FCT are not subjects under a dictatorship. They are citizens of a democratic republic.

“Any sweeping restriction on their movement and livelihoods must be justified by compelling evidence, subjected to scrutiny, and carried out with transparency,” she said.

While acknowledging the importance of maintaining law and order, Kingibe emphasised that security concerns cannot serve as a blanket justification for “executive overreach.”

She stressed that the curfew, as announced, risks inflicting severe economic hardship on small businesses, workers, and families who rely on daily income for survival, as well as international visitors.

“ECOWAS Parliamentarians will be arriving for a planned 10-day extraordinary meeting starting on Sunday, Set Weddings and receptions, Planned Functions, Marked Events and Embassies.

“Curfews are only warranted when there are SERIOUS security breaches, and there are NONE. This is only just Area Council (LG) Elections.

“Decisions of this magnitude cannot be taken without cause, consultation with stakeholders, and due process.

“The minister should please remember that he is not the first to administer this territory and this is not the first election taking place here,” she said.

Senator Kingibe, therefore, called on the minister to immediately review and suspend the curfew.

“The rights, freedoms, and economic well-being of the people of the FCT must never be compromised by arbitrary, authoritarian and draconian executive action.”

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

Two days after he hurriedly assented to the 2026 Electoral  Act amendment bill into law, Tinubu, on Friday, February 20, 2026   urged the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to leverage the Federal Capital Territory FCT Council polls and the by-elections in Kano and Rivers States  to strengthen public confidence in the system.

This is as he urged the electorate to come out and exercise their civic responsibilities without fear, and  avoid engaging in  violence, inflammatory rhetorics, as well as other actions capable of undermining the peace and stability of the country.

The President emphasized the  need for political parties’ candidates and their supporters to eschew incendiary and inflammatory rhetorics and actions capable of questioning the credibility of the polls ,and the country’s electoral process.

In a statement issued by Bayo Onanuga, his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, the President also called on security agencies to exercise restraint while performing their duties on the election day.

“President Tinubu urged all eligible voters to come out and vote without fear, emphasizing that the democratic process thrives best in an atmosphere of calm, tolerance and mutual respect”.

President Tinubu cautioned security agencies against indulging in high-handedness, intimidation or any conducts that could lead to the disenfranchisement of voters and erode public confidence and trust in the country’s electoral system.

He harped on the need for security agencies  and all other institutions concerned to safeguard lives and property ,as well as protect the sanctity and integrity of the the system.

The President encouraged the INEC to, as a matter of importance, take all necessary steps towards boosting voter confidence through timely accreditation, smooth voting procedures, accurate collation and prompt transmission of results in line with the provi of the 2026 Electoral Act.

The Source further reports that besides the FCT Council polls, the INEC is set to conduct by-elections to fill vacant State Legislative positions in Ahoada East II and Khana II state Constituencies in Rivers State and Kano Municipal and Ungogo State Constituencies of Kano state on Saturday February 21, 2026