The Area Council Elections in the Federal Capital Territory were on Saturday marked by low voter turnout and allegations of intimidation, as the African Democratic Congress (ADC) recorded an early polling unit victory over the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC).
At Polling Unit 076, Sani Abacha Estate, Wuse Zone 4 where the ADC’s AMAC chairmanship candidate, Dr. Moses Paul, cast his ballot the party secured seven votes, defeating the APC, which polled two votes, while one ballot was declared invalid. Only 10 votes were recorded at the unit, underscoring the generally low turnout observed across parts of the territory.
Reacting to the development, Dr. Paul attributed the poor participation to earlier movement restrictions announced by the FCT authorities, describing the situation as “confusing and discouraging” for voters.
“The uncertainty surrounding movement restrictions significantly affected voter turnout. Many residents were unsure about the scope of the directive and chose to stay away,” he said.
The ADC candidate also raised concerns over alleged intimidation of party agents in Takum Shara and parts of Kabusa ward, including Dogongada and Shereti. According to him, reports of threats and attempts to suppress participation were received from those areas.
“Any act of intimidation or threat of violence is unacceptable and undermines the integrity of the electoral process,” Paul stated, calling on security agencies to ensure a safe and credible exercise.
While commending electoral officials at his polling unit for professionalism and adherence to due process, he condemned alleged incidents of vote buying in parts of the capital, warning that such practices erode public confidence in democracy.
Despite the reported challenges, the AMAC chairmanship hopeful expressed optimism about the overall outcome, urging residents to remain resolute and committed to accountable leadership as collation of results continues.