Wike’s Poll Clampdown Blasted: CSOs Slam Coordination Chaos, Rigging Fears

By Linda Ike

Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) and Transition Monitoring Group (TMG) have condemned FCT Minister Nyesom Wike’s movement restrictions ahead of today’s Area Council elections as poorly coordinated, against national interest, and ripe for rigging allegations.

In a statement by Executive Director of CISLAC, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, and chairman of TMG, the groups flagged clashing orders on the timeline issued by different offices, Wike’s 8 p.m. Friday to 6 p.m. Saturday versus Police Commissioner Miller G. Dantawaye’s 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, versus the traditional 7 a.m.-3 p.m. election window, stoking public distrust and manipulation talk.

They argued that issues of national importance, particularly elections require unified communication and strategic coordination confusion, panic and loss of public trust.

Elections aren’t war zones, they argued that Ramadan observers need prayer and food access amid economic hardship, where daily earners can’t stockpile.

Such overreach without justification erodes electoral faith and demands unified security messaging prioritising rights.