ADC Candidate Alleges Early Victory Before ‘Irregularities’ in Abuja Council Poll
A candidate for the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) election has alleged he secured victory by mid-afternoon on polling day before what he described as a cascade of electoral irregularities reversed the outcome.
Dr. Moses Paul Ogigi, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) flagbearer, made the claim following the declaration of results by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which announced the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate as the winner. Speaking on Arise News, Dr. Ogigi rejected the official results, citing multiple malpractices that he said marred the concluded election.
“By 3pm I had already won the elections across board and then magic began to happen,” Dr. Ogigi stated. He expressed deep concern over the reported imposition of a curfew, the mutilation of results, widespread vote buying, and the harassment of ADC party agents and members at polling units. “I’ve never seen a heightened level of vote buying like we’ve seen in this particular election,” he added.
While Dr. Ogigi entered the race with optimism following a change in INEC’s national leadership, he asserted that the election instead exposed persistent obstacles to the popular will. “This is why these particular elections… will be a defining moment in the democratic journey for Nigeria,” he said, “not because it reflects the will of the people, but because it exposes that obstacle that hangs in the way of the will of the people.”
The AMAC election forms part of Nigeria’s recent local government polls, which are critical for grassroots governance. Dr. Ogigi’s allegations highlight ongoing concerns over electoral integrity and voter suppression tactics. His formal rejection of the results and detailed complaints suggest potential legal or political challenges ahead.
The episode underscores the volatile intersection of political competition and administrative control in Nigeria’s capital territory, casting a shadow over the credibility of the electoral process for a key municipal leadership position. The final outcome and any subsequent adjudication will be closely watched by observers monitoring Nigeria’s democratic consolidation.
