Tension Soars As Alleged Thugs Hover Around Abuja Polling Unit

Although election materials reportedly arrived at about 9:03 a.m., the commencement of accreditation and voting was delayed for more than an hour. Verification eventually started around 10:10 a.m., leaving many early voters waiting anxiously at the centre.

Residents who spoke quietly at the scene said the delay, combined with the presence of unfamiliar individuals within the vicinity, increased anxiety among voters who had arrived before the scheduled start time.

Despite the deployment of security personnel to the area, some voters expressed unease over the presence of suspected thugs and party agents positioned in and around the polling unit.

The tense atmosphere reportedly caused apprehension among several members of the electorate, who feared the possibility of disruptions to the voting process.

As of the time this report was filed, accreditation was ongoing under heightened security, with voters hoping the exercise would proceed peacefully despite the strained environment.

In a related development, the Senator representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Ireti Kingibe, criticized the curfew imposed by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike ahead of the local council elections.

Wike had declared Friday a public holiday and announced a restriction of movement from 8 p.m. on Friday to 6 p.m. on Saturday in preparation for the polls.

In a statement issued through her Special Assistant on Media, Matilda Duncan, Kingibe described the directive as an infringement on democratic principles and the constitutional rights of residents.