ABUJA — Moses Paul, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) chairmanship candidate for the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), has leveled explosive accusations against the All Progressives Congress (APC), alleging a coordinated campaign of voter intimidation and vote buying during Saturday’s FCT elections.
Allegations Of Violence And Suppression
Speaking in the wake of the polls, Paul described the exercise as being marred by the active suppression of opposition voices. His key claims include:
- Assault On Agents: Paul alleged that several of his party agents were viciously beaten and intimidated, specifically in the Durumi axis and parts of Kabusa ward, including Dogongada and Shereti.
- Death Threats: In locations such as Takum Shara, agents were reportedly threatened with bodily harm or death if they continued their election duties.
- Open Vote Buying: The candidate accused the ruling party of engaging in brazen, broad-daylight vote buying without intervention from security agencies.
Impact Of Movement Restrictions
Paul further attributed the historic voter apathy witnessed across the territory to the movement restriction directive issued by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike. He described the atmosphere as resembling a “state of emergency” that confused voters and discouraged them from reaching their polling units. At his own polling unit in Wuse Zone 4, Paul noted that fewer than 10 people turned out to vote.
“Amac Is Not Obio-Akpor”
In a fiery address, Paul directly challenged Minister Wike’s influence, asserting that the FCT is not the Minister’s political base in Rivers State. “Tell Wike AMAC is not Obio-Akpor… We own this city,” he declared, vowing that the will of the people would resist any attempt to manipulate the final results.
Despite the reported violence, Paul remains confident of victory, urging his supporters to remain vigilant as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) continues to upload results to the IReV portal.
