CITIZENS COMPASS— The African Democratic Congress (ADC) on Saturday, defeated the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) at a polling unit during the Area Council elections in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
This gave the party its first victory against APC.
ADC won the votes at polling unit 076, Sani Abacha Estate, Wuse Zone 4.
The party got eight votes out of 10 ballots cast at the unit while APC got two and a ballot was declared invalid.
Earlier, Dr. Moses Paul, the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) candidate, had voted in the polling unit alleging that his party agents were being intimidated.
In a related development, APC and ADC ended in a tie at the gate of the Presidential Villa.
At Polling Unit 130, situated at Gate 8 of the Presidential Villa in the City Centre Ward of the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), both parties secured seven votes each in Saturday’s Area Council election.
Out of 784 registered voters assigned to the unit, only 14 were accredited and cast their ballots.
Speaking about the Unit 076 poll, Paul said the turnout was far lower than expected and attributed it to what he described as confusion created by the restriction directive.
He said he had lived in AMAC for about 40 years and had never witnessed such a situation, noting that the development appeared like “a state of emergency” over what he considered unwarranted.
He said although electoral officials at his polling unit were professional and followed due process, reports reaching him indicated that ADC agents in Takum Shara and parts of Kabusa ward, including Dogongada and Shereti, were allegedly threatened and intimidated.
He added that some agents were allegedly told they would be maimed or killed, and noted that such actions were aimed at suppressing voters and influencing the process in favour of the ruling party.
He said vote buying was criminal and alleged that it was ongoing in parts of the capital city.
He added that despite the challenges, he remained confident of emerging victorious, noting that the will of the people would prevail and urging Nigerians to resist intimidation and demand accountable leadership.
In a telling reflection of voter apathy in the city centre,
