Wike defends curfew, says Tinubu approved FCT restriction amid Kingibe’s criticism
Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike has clarified that the curfew imposed across the FCT ahead of Saturday’s area council elections was carried out with the approval of President Bola Tinubu, responding to sharp criticism from FCT Senator Ireti Kingibe.
Speaking after monitoring polls in key areas including Garki, Karu, Karshi, Wasa, Apo, and Ketti, Wike dismissed claims that he acted unilaterally.
“I never imposed a curfew on my own. I said with the approval of Mr. President,” he said, stressing that the decision was part of measures to ensure security during the elections.
The curfew, announced by Wike in a broadcast on national television and radio on Thursday, restricted human and vehicular movement in the FCT from 8 p.m. on Friday to 6 p.m. on Saturday. Friday was also declared a work-free day to facilitate voting preparations.
Senator Kingibe had criticised the move, calling it “unacceptable in a democratic society.”
On Channels Television’s Politics Today, she argued that residents are citizens, not subjects, and that sweeping restrictions on movement must be justified transparently and subject to scrutiny.
Kingibe acknowledged the importance of maintaining law and order but insisted that security concerns should not serve as a blanket excuse for “executive overreach.”
In his response, Wike said he would not engage in a public dispute with the senator.
“She has her problem, I don’t want to join issues. At the end of the election, when the results come out, then we will know,” he said.
The minister also reported low voter turnout in the city centre during the council elections but commended residents for their peaceful conduct.
He praised officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies for their work, noting that “no violence has been recorded yet.”
Wike further lauded the use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) during the polls and urged FCT residents to maintain orderliness until the electioneering process is concluded.
The curfew controversy underscores ongoing tensions between elected representatives and federal authorities in the FCT, highlighting the delicate balance between maintaining security and upholding democratic freedoms during electoral exercises.
