By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa
The senator representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Ireti Kingibe, has strongly condemned the imposition of a curfew by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, describing the move as “authoritarian” and a threat to democratic principles ahead of Saturday’s area council elections.
In a special broadcast on Thursday, Wike—who also declared Friday a work-free day to facilitate the polls—ordered a restriction on all human and vehicular movement across the territory. The curfew is set to run from 8 p.m. on Friday until 6 p.m. on Saturday.
In a statement issued on Friday by her Special Assistant on Media, Matilda Duncan, Kingibe criticized the decision as “ill-considered and unacceptable in a democratic society.” She argued that the unilateral imposition of a territory-wide curfew, without broad consultation with key stakeholders, represents a direct affront to democratic governance and the constitutional rights of FCT 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,” the statement read.
While acknowledging the importance of maintaining law and order, Kingibe warned against using security concerns as a blanket justification for executive overreach. She noted that no significant security threat currently exists in the FCT to warrant such a measure, emphasizing that Saturday’s exercise “is only just area council elections.”
The senator also highlighted the severe economic toll the curfew could exact on small business owners, daily wage earners, and families who depend on Saturday trading for their livelihoods. She urged the minister to immediately review and suspend the order, insisting that decisions of such magnitude must be grounded in due process, stakeholder input, and clear evidence.
“The rights, freedoms, and economic well-being of FCT residents must never be compromised by arbitrary, authoritarian, and draconian executive action,” Kingibe added.
