Ahead of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT council elections, the African Democratic Congress, ADC, has questioned why the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, is silent on the threat by the FCT minister, Nyesom Wike, to block candidates that are not supporting President Bola Tinubu.
Wike had during Senator Sandy Onor’s 60th birthday celebration in Abuja, vowed that it is his “duty to ensure that any candidate that is not supporting Tinubu does not win in the FCT council election”, adding that he does not owe any apology for his stand.
Reacting, the FCT chapter of the ADC wondered if INEC’s silence on the threat “amounts to complicity”.
A statement by the party’s Publicity Secretary, Nwigbo Chukwudi Samuel, said, “It’s been 48hrs since Wike publicly declared that he will not allow anybody not supporting President Tinubu to win election in FCT.
“One would’ve thought that by now, your social media handles would be flooded with messages distancing yourself from such utterance, instead, your silence has been deafening.
“Does your silence amount to complicity? What’s holding you from calling Wike to order? Does Wike who isn’t even eligible to vote in FCT now call the shot to decide who wins election or not? This is worrisome and unacceptable.
“We are watching. We will come out en masse on 21st of February and cast our vote and will protect the vote till the rightful winner of the election is declared. We are determined more than ever before. And it will not be business as usual.
“Remember, nobody has the monopoly of violence. So, be kindly informed that we will not hesitate to resist with maximum force, any attempt to rig the FCT elections. Warn your adhoc and all essential staff involved in this election to commit to transparency and due process. We are also, not apologetic about this.
“We encourage you as a partner in this deal and the only electoral umpire in nigeria, to truly commit to conducting a free, fair and credible election. Anything short of this will not be accepted.
“We could have responded to the FCT minister directly, but we chose not to banter words with a political bandit whose only stock in trade is always to steal it, grab it and run away with it. If he desires to test his popularity in FCT, he should get into the streets and campaign for his preferred candidate.”
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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