FCT Polls: Abuja Residents Defy Wike’s Movement Restriction Order as Motorists Move Freely

Abuja residents on Saturday disregarded the movement restriction imposed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mr Nyesom Wike, as well as directives from the police, continuing with their normal activities.

According to reports, commercial vehicle, tricycle, and motorcycle operators were busy ferrying residents across different areas of the FCT.

At Airport Road, Jikwoyi, Nyanya, Kuje, Gwagwalade, and parts of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), traffic flowed freely, with no barricades observed.

On the Kubwa-Nyanya highway, however, security personnel were seen blocking the road with their trucks, forcing motorists to use a single lane as they attempted to bypass the military presence.

Most businesses across the FCT remained closed, with shops locked, though some shop owners, laundry operators, and Point of Sale service providers continued to operate along parts of Airport Road.

By 8:10 a.m., electoral materials were being transported from the Kuje central distribution centre at Science Primary School to various polling stations within the area council.

Polling units in Aleyita on Airport Road were largely deserted, with only a few security personnel present, while INEC officials had not yet arrived.

By 8:26 a.m., only five voters had shown up at the centre, two of whom were political party agents. One voter, Mr Andrew James, said, “I had been at the polling unit as early as 7:00 a.m. to cast my vote but was disappointed that no INEC official was on ground.”

James also noted that for convenience, “all the six polling units in the community were collapsed at LEA Primary School, Aleyita.”

At Pilot Science Primary School, Kwali, voting had not started as of 8:33 a.m., while INEC officials were seen briefing party agents on the election guidelines.