Allegations of vote-buying, voter suppression, and missing election materials marred Saturday’s Area Council elections in the Federal Capital Territory, as APGA chairmanship candidate for the Abuja Municipal Area Council, Eze Onyenbuchi Chukwu, accused some political actors of undermining the exercise in several wards.
Speaking from Polling Unit 13, Asokoro, shortly after casting his vote around 11:45 a.m., Chukwu, who also serves as APGA’s National Youth Leader, described what he said were widespread irregularities, voter intimidation, and disturbing acts that threatened the credibility of the polls.
Chukwu who raised concerns about electoral conduct and fairness in some polling units said, “In Durumi 2, polling unit 022, they said INEC officials refused to come with the original copy of the results sheet. When they were asked, they said they forgot it in the office. And up to this moment that I am talking to you, they are yet to bring it.”
He also questioned the behavior of party agents at some polling units alleged that, “Every other party agent is complaining, only the ruling party agent that is silent and is just sitting in the car. So no voting is going on there.”
The candidate alleged that voter suppression was occurring in some communities near Kagini.
“The indigenes have refused non-indigenes to come in to vote. They are telling them that as long as you are not an indigene, you are not voting here, it’s not your land,” he said.
In Orozo, Chukwu reported incidents of vote-buying and threats to voters. “There is massive vote-buying, people are being threatened. Even if you don’t collect the money and vote, you can’t even pass,” he said, pointing to what he described as a climate of coercion.
Chukwu expressed shock at the low turnout in many units, citing one with fewer than 10 voters out of 2,816 registered. “Honestly, I am surprised. All the way from my house here, I didn’t see voters. The INEC officials are just sitting down. I have never seen any area council election in FCT that is as loud as this one in campaigning. I was expecting that people would swoop out to vote, but I don’t know why,” he said.
He warned of the dangers of neglecting grassroots elections and the consequences for governance:
“They don’t always have value for area council elections. Yet, we want to have the best governance at the top. It’s not possible for us to get a good head with rotten body parts,” he said, stressing that strong local governance is foundational for credible leadership at higher levels.
Chukwu drew a vivid analogy about misplaced national priorities, adding, “We are kind of chasing shadows. When fire is burning our house, we are busy chasing rats.”
While acknowledging the problems, he said he hoped the electoral process would proceed smoothly in other areas.
“Voting is ongoing in some places. But the challenges in the units I visited are very serious. They need urgent attention from INEC,” he said.
Efforts to obtain an official response from the Independent National Electoral Commission regarding these allegations were unsuccessful as of press time. Observers and residents at several polling units continued to monitor the exercise, which, despite the disruptions, was reported to be moving slowly but steadily in parts of the FCT at the time of filing.
