The African Democratic Congress has raised strong objections to the government’s decision to impose a curfew in Abuja from 8 pm on Friday, a day before the Area Council elections, accusing the authorities of attempting to suppress voter turnout after realising they could not win the polls.
In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, on Friday, February 20, the party said the timing of the movement restriction was unusual and designed to discourage residents from participating in Saturday’s elections.
“The party asserts that government’s decision to impose restrictions on movement a day before the election is a blatant move to suppress voter turnout, having realised that it stood no chance in the election,” the ADC said.
The party acknowledged that some restrictions on movement on election day could be justified but argued that the conventional practice is for such measures to begin at midnight on the day of the election, not the evening before.
“While some restrictions on movements on election day may be justified, the conventional practice is for such restrictions to commence at midnight on election day.
“We are therefore concerned by the decision of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike to impose a curfew on the FCT from 8 pm on Friday,” the statement read.
“The ADC will therefore like to register our strong objections to this premature restrictions on movement,” it added.
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The party stressed that elections must be conducted in an environment that guarantees freedom of movement for all eligible voters.
“Elections must be conducted in an atmosphere that is not only safe but also visibly free and open to all eligible voters.
“Abuja residents must be able to travel safely to their polling units, remain there until the voting process is concluded, and return home without fear of harassment, obstruction, or arbitrary restriction of movement,” the ADC said.
FCT Minister Nyesom Wike had announced the curfew on Thursday, saying President Bola Tinubu approved the restriction of movement within the FCT from 8 pm on Friday to 6 pm on Saturday.
He also declared Friday a work-free day to allow residents travel to their communities to vote.
The ADC’s objection adds to the growing list of concerns raised by opposition parties and civil society groups about the conduct of the FCT elections, which will see voters across six area councils elect chairmen and councillors on Saturday.