The Senator representing the Federal Capital Territory, Ireti Kingibe, has called on FCT Minister Nyesom Wike to review and suspend the movement restriction imposed ahead of the territory’s Local Government elections.
Wike had declared Friday a work-free day and announced a restriction of movement from 8 pm on Friday to 6 pm on Saturday in preparation for the polls scheduled for Saturday.
In a statement issued through her Special Assistant on Media, Matilda Duncan, Kingibe condemned what she described as the unilateral imposition of a curfew, calling the decision “authoritarian, ill-considered, and unacceptable in a democratic society.”
She said imposing a territory-wide curfew without broad consultation with key stakeholders undermines democratic governance and the constitutional rights of residents.
“The people of the FCT are not subjects under a dictatorship. They are citizens of a democratic republic. Any sweeping restriction on their movement and livelihoods must be justified by compelling evidence, subjected to scrutiny, and carried out with transparency,” she said.
While acknowledging the need to maintain law and order, the senator argued that security concerns should not be used to justify what she termed “executive overreach.”
She warned that the restriction could cause significant economic disruption for small businesses, daily wage earners, families, and international visitors.
“ECOWAS Parliamentarians will be arriving for a planned 10-day extraordinary meeting starting on Sunday, Set Weddings and receptions, Planned Functions, Marked Events and Embassies.
“Curfews are only warranted when there are SERIOUS security breaches, and there are NONE. This is only just Area Council (LG) Elections.
“Decisions of this magnitude cannot be taken without cause, consultation with stakeholders, and due process.
“The Minister should please remember that he is not the first to administer this territory and this is not the first election taking place here,” she said.
Kingibe therefore urged the minister to immediately suspend the restriction.
“The rights, freedoms, and economic well-being of the people of the FCT must never be compromised by arbitrary, authoritarian and draconian executive action.”
