Ahead of Saturday’s area council elections in the Federal Capital Territory, former Social Democratic Party presidential candidate, Prince Adewole Adebayo, has outlined steps political parties and Abuja residents can take to prevent electoral malpractice.
Speaking at an event in Bwari, Abuja, on Wednesday, Adebayo urged residents to turn out in large numbers on election day to safeguard their votes and ensure they are properly counted.
He also emphasized the importance of voters being familiar with the candidates they intend to support, so they can hold them accountable after the polls.
Adebayo described Saturday’s elections as highly significant—arguing that they focus on the choices of Abuja residents rather than the role of the incumbent FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike. “Know your candidates, and know your choices, and make sure that you commit to where you believe your community will get better.
“The first way to checkmate rigging is to make sure you bring a candidate that people will like so people will have interest in the election. They will be interested in the outcome. And then the people will come out en masse.
“Once they come out en masse, they will come and vote, and they will wait to see that the vote counts. And in an Area Council election, you only have three steps.
“The polling unit, the ward, and the Area Council. So it is easier to checkmate any kind of manipulation.
“We have come here to let the people know that, no, it is not Wike. It is you who will determine who will be your chairman and your councillor.”
On his part, Abubakar Abdullahi, SDP Bwari area Council Chairmanship candidate, said in democracy, the people’s will is ultimate, and government should be inclusive.
“Government that belongs to everybody, not what we are having today,” he said.