By Abuja, Nigeria
Civil society organisations have criticised authorities over what they described as “confusing and excessive movement restrictions” ahead of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections scheduled for Saturday, February 21, 2026.
The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) and Transition Monitoring Group (TMG) warned that unclear directives risk eroding public confidence and fuelling suspicion of electoral manipulation.
In a statement signed by CISLAC Executive Director and TMG Chair, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, the groups criticised what they called poor coordination among government and security agencies. They noted that election-day movement restrictions traditionally run from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., questioning the justification for a longer lockdown and warning that the extension has heightened fears of possible rigging.
According to the organisations, elections should not be treated like a security emergency. They also argued that residents observing Ramadan must not be prevented from carrying out religious obligations, buying essential items, or engaging in daily economic activities, especially as many depend on daily income.
The groups highlighted conflicting directives from officials, citing FCT Minister Nyesom Wike announcing a restriction from 8:00 p.m. Friday to 6:00 p.m. Saturday, while FCT Police Commissioner Miller G. Dantawaye declared a separate restriction from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on election day.
They warned that the differing timelines could create confusion and undermine trust in the electoral process. CISLAC and TMG urged authorities to harmonise their directives, communicate clearly with residents, and balance election security with citizens’ rights to movement and worship.
