The Senator representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Ireti Kingibe, has called on the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to review and suspend the movement restriction announced ahead of Saturday’s Area Council elections.
Gatekeepers News reports that Wike had earlier declared Friday a work-free day and imposed a movement restriction from 8:00 p.m. on Friday to 6:00 p.m. on Saturday in preparation for the FCT Local Government polls.
Reacting in a statement signed by her Special Assistant on Media, Matilda Duncan, Senator Kingibe condemned what she described as the unilateral imposition of a curfew, calling the action “authoritarian, ill-considered, and unacceptable in a democratic society.”
She argued that imposing a territory-wide restriction without broad consultation with key stakeholders undermines democratic governance and infringes on the constitutional rights of residents.
“The people of the FCT are not subjects under a dictatorship. They are citizens of a democratic republic. Any sweeping restriction on their movement and livelihoods must be justified by compelling evidence, subjected to scrutiny, and carried out with transparency,” she said.
While acknowledging the need to maintain law and order, Kingibe maintained that security concerns cannot serve as a blanket justification for what she termed “executive overreach.”
She warned that the restriction could inflict economic hardship on small businesses, workers, and families dependent on daily income, as well as disrupt scheduled events and international engagements.
“ECOWAS Parliamentarians will be arriving for a planned 10-day extraordinary meeting starting on Sunday, Set Weddings and receptions, Planned Functions, Marked Events and Embassies.
“Curfews are only warranted when there are SERIOUS security breaches, and there are NONE. This is only just Area Council (LG) Elections.
“Decisions of this magnitude cannot be taken without cause, consultation with stakeholders, and due process.
“The Minister should please remember that he is not the first to administer this territory and this is not the first election taking place here,” she said.
The senator therefore urged the minister to immediately reconsider the directive.
“The rights, freedoms, and economic well-being of the people of the FCT must never be compromised by arbitrary, authoritarian and draconian executive action.”
