The Obidient Movement has rejected the outcome of Saturday’s Abuja Municipal Area Council chairmanship election, describing the exercise as a “brazen assault” on democracy and condemning the killing of one of its polling agents.
At a press briefing in Abuja on Monday, the National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement Worldwide, Dr Yunusa Tanko, alleged that the poll was marred by widespread irregularities, intimidation and voter suppression, which he said compromised its credibility.
The protest followed reports that the All Progressives Congress secured five of the six area council chairmanship seats in the Federal Capital Territory, winning in AMAC, Abaji, Bwari, Kwali and Kuje, while the Peoples Democratic Party clinched Gwagwalada.
The elections were held to fill six chairmanship and 62 councillorship positions across the FCT. Observers reported low voter turnout amid allegations of vote-buying in some areas.
Tanko disclosed that the movement backed the African Democratic Congress candidate for AMAC chairmanship, Dr Moses Paul, popularly known as Dr Mo, describing the support as part of a broader coalition driven by the vision of a new Nigeria.
Speaking on behalf of the group, Tanko said the outcome of the election was not merely a political loss but an attack on democratic principles.
He alleged that party agents of the ADC were harassed and intimidated at several polling units, adding that the situation escalated into violence in Gwagwa, where one of their representatives, Musa Abubakar, also known as Dege, was reportedly killed while attempting to prevent ballot box snatching.
According to him, the killing instilled fear among other agents, forcing some to abandon their posts.
“Our agents were systematically targeted and threatened. The intimidation reached a tragic climax when one of our most committed agents was killed at his polling unit,” Tanko said.
He described the deceased as a devoted family man who believed in democratic change and insisted that those responsible for the violence must be brought to justice.
The movement further accused unnamed actors of orchestrating electoral fraud and held them accountable for the death of its agent.
It commended Dr Mo and his team for visiting the bereaved family and offering support.
Tanko called for a comprehensive and transparent review of the AMAC election results and urged security agencies to investigate the killing and prosecute those involved.
He also criticised the Independent National Electoral Commission, alleging that the restructuring of polling units without sufficient public awareness contributed to voter apathy.
According to him, many voters were unable to locate their polling centres and left without casting their ballots, resulting in what he described as a turnout of about seven per cent.
Tanko added that the intervention of former presidential candidate Peter Obi encouraged greater participation among supporters of the movement and its allied candidates, noting what he termed a marginal increase in turnout compared to previous FCT council elections.
He maintained that the will of the electorate in AMAC was subverted and urged the electoral umpire to address the allegations to restore public confidence in the democratic process.
