Wike says Tinubu approved lifting of movement restrictions ahead of FCT elections
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has said that President Bola Tinubu approved the lifting of movement restrictions ahead of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) area council elections to enable residents return to their communities and participate in the polls.
Speaking on Sunday night after a meeting with the President at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Wike said the directive was granted on Friday to facilitate voter participation in the elections, where the All Progressives Congress (APC) secured five of the six chairmanship seats.
“By the approval of Mr. President, he said restrictions should be lifted on Friday so people could go back to their area councils and participate in the electoral process,” Wike said, while responding to allegations of electoral interference.
The minister also rejected claims that his presence at polling units during the election amounted to voter intimidation. The African Democratic Congress (ADC) had questioned his visits to polling centres, suggesting they could influence voters.
Dismissing the criticism, Wike described his accusers as individuals who comment without verifying facts, insisting that he neither interfered in the process nor imposed himself on the election.
In the polls conducted on Saturday, February 21, 2026, the APC won chairmanship positions in Abaji, Bwari, Kwali, the Municipal Area Council, and Abuja Municipal Area Council, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) clinched Gwagwalada Area Council.
Wike attributed the APC’s performance to infrastructure development and government projects across the territory, stating that the outcome reflected public appreciation of ongoing efforts in both urban and satellite communities.
He further maintained that reports available to him indicated the elections were conducted in a free and fair manner.
