…..Credits President Tinubu’s Rural Development Strides

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, addressed the outcome of Saturday’s local elections in the FCT Area Councils and by-elections in Rivers State during remarks at the Presidential Villa on Sunday.

Wike attributed the impressive performance of the All Progressives Congress (APC) which secured victories in five of the six FCT Area Council chairmanship seats and dominated the Rivers State House of Assembly by-elections in Ahoada East II and Khana II constituencies to the tangible strides made by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, particularly in rural development and infrastructure improvements across the territory and beyond.

He highlighted that enhanced access to basic amenities, road networks, and community-focused initiatives in satellite towns and rural areas had boosted voter confidence and turnout in those regions, contributing significantly to the peaceful and favorable results despite lower participation in urban centers.

The minister also defended the pre-election restriction of movement, which had drawn criticism from figures including human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) and others who described it as undemocratic and restrictive to freedoms.

Wike reiterated that the directive was explicitly ordered and approved by President Tinubu to ensure security, maintain order, and facilitate a hitch-free process amid potential threats. He urged critics to verify facts before making public statements, emphasizing that such measures were necessary for public safety and successful conduct of the polls.

The elections, conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), were largely described as peaceful and orderly by observers, INEC officials, and stakeholders, with results showing strong APC gains in the contested areas.

President Tinubu has since congratulated the winners and commended Wike’s efforts in delivering political dividends for the ruling party.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed it will soon release a revised timetable and schedule of activities for Nigeria’s 2027 general elections to ensure full alignment with the recently enacted Electoral Act 2026.

The announcement comes after INEC initially set the presidential and National Assembly elections for Saturday, February 20, 2027, and the governorship and state Houses of Assembly polls for Saturday, March 6, 2027, in a notice released on February 13, 2026.

Adedayo Oketola, Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to INEC Chairman Prof. Joash Amupitan, stated that the commission is reviewing the new Act and will publish a “revised timetable” accordingly.

This follows legislative amendments, including a reduction in the mandatory notice period for elections from 360 days to 300 days under revised Clause 28 of the Act, granting INEC greater flexibility in scheduling to avoid potential conflicts, such as overlaps with religious observances like Ramadan in 2027.

Political party leaders and stakeholders have pushed for the review, emphasizing the need for compliance with the updated legal framework. INEC has also debunked circulating false claims about an official timetable release, reiterating that the authentic schedule will be issued in due course and in strict adherence to constitutional provisions and the Electoral Act.

The forthcoming timetable is expected to detail critical milestones, including party primaries, campaign periods, voter registration updates, and ongoing nationwide voter revalidation efforts aimed at enhancing electoral integrity ahead of the polls.

INEC assured Nigerians that preparations for the 2027 elections are progressing steadily, with the revised timetable set to provide clarity and guide all stakeholders.

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, on Saturday began monitoring of the ongoing FCT Area Council elections at Lagos Crescent, Garki, where he urged traders and residents to comply with electoral guidelines to ensure a smooth process.

Addressing stakeholders in the area, the minister stressed the need for orderliness and full adherence to directives issued for the conduct of the polls.

Wike thereafter visited other polling units across Abuja to assess the level of preparedness and compliance.

He called on residents to come out en masse to exercise their franchise, assuring them of adequate security and a transparent electoral process.