AAC Accuses Wike of Voter Intimidation Ahead of FCT Council Polls

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) chapter of the African Action Congress (AAC) has accused the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, of attempting to intimidate voters and undermine the forthcoming area council elections.

In a statement released on Monday and signed by its chairman, Agena Robert Ande, the party condemned recent remarks attributed to the Minister, in which he reportedly threatened to work against candidates who do not support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the FCT polls.

The AAC described the Minister’s comments as a “recipe for chaos” and a form of political intimidation that shows a disregard for democratic principles.

The party specifically questioned what it called Wike’s “confidence” in making such statements and raised concerns about the role of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). It called on the electoral body to publicly clarify its position and state whether it is aware of, or aligned with, any alleged plot to manipulate the elections.

“We question the confidence with which Minister Wike makes such statements, and we wonder if he has received assurances from the leadership of INEC that they will work with him to rig the elections or otherwise,” the statement read. “If INEC is not complicit in this plot, how does Minister Wike feel emboldened to make such brazen threats without any body from the INEC uprightly rejecting them in public?”

The AAC demanded that security agencies, including the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police Force, take immediate steps to prevent any violence or voter intimidation in the FCT. The party also called for the Minister to be held accountable for his alleged remarks.

In a direct message to the President, the party warned that any attempt to impose the government’s will on FCT residents would be met with resistance. “We warn the President that his association with Minister Wike is a recipe for disaster… We urge him to take immediate action to distance himself from Minister Wike and to ensure that the FCT elections are conducted in a free and fair manner,” the statement added.

The AAC also encouraged residents of the FCT not to be intimidated or swayed by political pressure, urging them to ensure their votes count. “The people of FCT are not mere pawns to be manipulated, but citizens with inherent rights that must be respected,” the statement concluded.