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A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Dele Momodu, has criticised the conduct of the just-concluded Federal Capital Territory (FCT )Area Council and Chairmanship elections, alleging that Nigeria’s democratic process is deteriorating under the ruling party.
Speaking in an interview on News Central TV, Momodu said, “Nigeria is going backwards under APC. It’s a shame. APC needs to be ashamed of itself that we cannot conduct an election in one city, in Abuja, peacefully.”
He raised concerns about voter participation and logistical challenges, noting that many registered voters were unable to cast their ballots.
“People cannot come out to go to wherever they registered. Some people got there, they could not find their names, and you tell me, oh, it was a fantastic election.”
He also criticised reported movement restrictions, saying, “Unilaterally, suddenly, you know, a minister says the president instructed him to shut down Abuja, to declare a curfew. That’s not an election.”
The ADC chieftain argued that such developments reflect a broader disregard for democratic values.
“We shouldn’t do this to our country. It seems we hate our country so much that we just talk nonsense these days. And we are the people who claim to have fought for this democracy,” he said.
Momodu also alleged an imbalance of political influence within the Federal Capital Territory, claiming that Nyesom Wike was acting above his station.
“Everybody is scared of Wike. Wike in Abuja is virtually the de facto vice president. The vice president cannot do what Wike is doing in Abuja. And he won’t watch it. Why? Because he needs Wike next year for his own election. So you unleash him on the mission.”
He further suggested that political considerations were driving this dynamic, adding that the president may eventually regret the situation.
“But I know that whenever this would end, as it would surely end one day, the president will look back and he will regret what he has done to our democracy.”
Drawing comparisons with other African democracies, Momodu referenced his experience observing elections in Ghana.
“I witnessed an election in Ghana in 2024. Nobody wants to stop. You go and vote, nobody will harass you,” he said, contrasting it with the situation in Abuja.
He further accused political actors of competing for favour within the ruling party, stating, “I am telling you, a lot of our governors are crying louder than the bereaved. It’s like, I don’t know what jazz they’ve used on them, that everybody is fighting. They are fighting for attention; they are fighting to prove who is the bigger thug, who can fight on behalf of Tinubu. Tinubu must win by all means.”
Warning of long-term implications, Momodu said that such an act could lead to “a full-blown dictatorship.”
“And what they all forget is that if a man in his first term can capture the bodies and souls of Nigerians this way, so what will he do when he now has power for the second term, when he no longer needs anybody?
” What would then happen is that you have a full-blown dictatorship and all of them will not be at his mercy.”
The FCT elections have continued to generate mixed reactions over its credibility and conduct.
