The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has criticised the Senator representing the FCT, Ireti Kingibe, over her comments on the recent council election, insisting that elections are a process and not a one-day event.
Speaking during a media chat in Abuja on Monday, the former Governor of Rivers State stressed that electoral outcomes in the FCT are determined solely by voters.
Wike said the February 21 poll should not be viewed in isolation, noting that preparations for any election begin long before the voting day.
“It’s a process that starts from the nomination of candidates. It’s a process that goes through a campaign before it gets to an election. So election is not just that particular date of voting,” he said.
He likened the electoral process to preparing for an examination, stressing that serious contenders do not wait until the last minute.
“You are going to school, you know the exam will come, and the exam will be in two or three months’ time. Nobody waits for the exam to come before they know that you are prepared for the exam. So it’s a process. You must attend classes. You must read to be prepared for the exam,” he said.
The minister added that those who fail to prepare often look for excuses, saying that, “That is why you see students who are not prepared for exams, when they see an opportunity, they will search for a strike. They will call for a strike, so they are not allowed to write the exam.”
The minister recalled that some political parties had earlier suggested that the February 21 council election would shape the outcome of the 2027 general election.
“Remember, some parties have said that the election of the 21st of February would determine the election of 2027,” he said
He also referenced a statement allegedly made by Kingibe, claiming she had vowed to use the local government election to “teach me a lesson.”
“Remember, the senator that represents FCT has said that they will use the local government election to teach me a lesson, that FCT is not Rivers State,” Wike said.
Responding to allegations that he declared a curfew, Wike dismissed the claim and accused the senator of misrepresenting his comments.
“That’s why we have to be careful. The minute the senator said so, I knew she didn’t read. If you heard my speech, I said, ‘by the approval of Mr President’,” he said.
According to him, the directive he referenced was based on presidential approval, granting a work-free day to enable residents travel to their places of origin without returning late.
By the approval of Mr President, who has asked people to go back to their areas where they come from and has given them a work-free day so that you don’t go back late — that’s against Saturday. By the approval of Mr President. I never declared any curfew,” he said.
Wike maintained that, as a minister representing the President, he acts based on available security intelligence.
“As a minister who represents Mr President, the security reports I have, they do not have it,” he added.
