Nigerian Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has sharply criticized political opponents following the local government elections in Abuja, accusing them of conducting deceptive campaign tactics. His remarks come after the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) secured a decisive victory across the territory.
Wike spoke on Sunday after a meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa. The elections, held for the FCT’s six Area Councils, resulted in the APC winning five councils, while the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to which Wike belongs, managed to win only one.
“This election has further exposed the hypocrisy of people who go about buying corn and groundnuts from roadside sellers for the purpose of a campaign just to deceive Nigerians,” Wike stated. He referred to a common campaign practice where politicians distribute money or small gifts to market vendors and ordinary citizens, framing it as a disingenuous attempt to buy goodwill.
The Minister added that the FCT electorate had demonstrated political maturity, rejecting what he termed “emergency democrats”—a label for politicians he suggested are only vocal critics of the government without constructive alternatives. “The residents of FCT demonstrated that they cannot be deceived,” he said, implying that voters recognized genuine governance over superficial gestures.
The Area Council elections are a critical test of grassroots political strength in the nation’s capital. The APC’s sweep in the FCT, a region often considered a key political battleground, signals robust support for the federal administration’s policies and machinery ahead of broader political contests. For the opposition PDP, the result underscores significant organizational challenges in a territory it once held.
Wike’s comments, while defending the electorate’s choice, also acknowledge the poor electoral performance of his own party in the FCT. His focus on campaign ethics shifts the narrative from the loss itself to a critique of opposition methods, potentially aiming to influence future political discourse. The meeting with President Tinubu beforehand suggested a coordinated federal response to the election outcome.
The outcome and the minister’s reaction highlight the deepening political divisions and the strategic narratives each side will employ. Observers note that framing electoral success as a victory against deceit could become a staple of the ruling party’s messaging, while the opposition may need to reassess its grassroots engagement strategies in urban centers like Abuja. The FCT results will undoubtedly inform approaches for future electoral cycles in Nigeria.
