The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of “complicity” over its failure to respond to a public threat by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to ensure candidates not supporting President Bola Tinubu lose the upcoming FCT council elections.
Wike, during a public event in Abuja, stated it was his “duty” to prevent non-Tinubu supporters from winning the polls scheduled for February 21. He explicitly refused to apologise for the stance.
In a statement, the ADC’s FCT chapter, through its Publicity Secretary Nwigbo Chukwudi Samuel, questioned INEC’s silence more than 48 hours after Wike’s declaration. “One would’ve thought that by now, your social media handles would be flooded with messages distancing yourself from such utterance,” the statement read, directly asking if INEC’s inaction “amounts to complicity.”
The party argued that Wike, who is not even a registered voter in the FCT, should not have the power to dictate electoral outcomes. The ADC announced plans to mobilise its supporters to vote en masse on election day and to “protect the vote,” warning INEC and its ad-hoc staff to commit to transparency. The statement also invoked a readiness to “resist with maximum force” any electoral rigging, noting, “nobody has the monopoly of violence.”
While suggesting Wike should campaign openly if he wishes to influence the election, the ADC characterised the minister as a “political bandit,” dismissing direct engagement with him.
The development raises critical questions about the neutrality of state actors in the local government polls. INEC, as the constitutionally mandated electoral umpire, has yet to issue a public statement addressing the minister’s remarks or affirming its commitment to a level playing field. The ADC’s strong language signals potential for heightened tension in the final days before the FCT council election, where the commission’s perceived impartiality will be under intense scrutiny. The election is seen as a key test of Nigeria’s sub-national democratic processes.
