The African Democratic Congress, ADC, has raised serious concerns over what it described as a move to suppress voter turnout ahead of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, elections scheduled for Saturday.
The party faulted the declaration of a curfew in Abuja from 8 p.m. on Friday, allegedly ordered by the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, describing the move as premature and politically motivated.
This was disclosed in a statement by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, who argued that while restrictions on movement on election day may be justified for security reasons, such measures traditionally commence at midnight on the day of the election.
Abdullahi described the early curfew as a “blatant move to suppress voter turnout,” adding that the government imposed the restriction after allegedly realising it “stood no chance in the election.”
He said the party was worried that the timing of the curfew could disenfranchise voters who may need to travel across parts of the FCT to participate in the polls.
“We will like to register our strong objections to this premature restriction on movement,” Abdullahi said, stressing that the decision could undermine public confidence in the electoral process.
He further emphasised that “elections must be conducted in an atmosphere that is not only safe but also visibly free and open to all eligible voters.”
According to him, Abuja residents should be able to travel safely to their polling units, remain there until voting is concluded, and return home without fear of harassment, obstruction, or arbitrary restrictions.
The party called on relevant authorities to reconsider the timing of the curfew to ensure that the electoral process remains credible, transparent, and inclusive.
Blatant move to suppress voter turnout – ADC raises alarm over alleged voter suppression in FCT
