National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement Global, Dr. Yunusa Tanko, has raised alarm over alleged irregularities in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council election held on Saturday, accusing electoral officials of deliberately withholding results from key polling areas.

Tanko alleged that officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) refused to announce results from locations where the candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Dr. Moses Paul, popularly known as Dr Mo, was reportedly leading.

According to him, results from Gwarinpa, Garki and Karu had been ready since about 9 p.m. on Saturday but were yet to be officially declared.

“The situation in this country is becoming more alarming than I imagined,” he said. “Reports reaching us at the Situation Room indicate that results from Gwarinpa, Garki and Karu were ready as early as nine o’clock, yet they have refused to announce them simply because Dr Mo is leading.”

He further alleged that tensions had escalated in the affected areas, claiming that security operatives had deployed tear gas amid growing unrest.

“That is why there is chaos in those places. As we speak, there is heavy mobilisation and tear gas has been fired at people,” Tanko alleged.

The Obidient Movement coordinator called on Nigerians to remain vigilant and urged leaders of the ADC to take a firm stance against what he described as attempts to manipulate the electoral process.

“This is the time for ADC political leaders to speak with one voice and say no to election rigging. The target, clearly, is to rig out Dr Mo, who is already leading,” he said.

Tanko also warned that the alleged actions could be a precursor to broader electoral malpractice ahead of future general elections.

“This is a test case for what they want to do during the general election. We must resist it now,” he added.

He urged supporters and concerned citizens to mobilise peacefully and demand transparency from electoral authorities.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has commended the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, stating that his achievements in the territory yielded political dividends for the ruling All Progressives Congress.

The President’s remarks followed Saturday’s elections conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission in the six area councils of the FCT, as well as by-elections in Ahoada East II and Khana II state constituencies in Rivers State and Kano Municipal and Ungogo constituencies in Kano State.

The APC recorded victories in most of the positions contested.

In a statement issued on Sunday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu congratulated the winners of the elections and lauded stakeholders involved in the process.

According to the statement, the President praised INEC, security agencies and voters for ensuring a peaceful and credible exercise.

Onanuga stated, “President Tinubu commends the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, for his remarkable achievements in the territory, which have yielded political dividends to the governing All Progressives Congress (APC).

“The President congratulates the APC national leadership, Kano and Rivers leaderships, and all members of the party on the victories at the polls.”

Tinubu urged those elected to approach their mandate with a sense of duty and responsibility.

The President also commended the contestants for their conduct during the polls.

“He further commends the courage and discipline displayed by all the contestants, stating that democracy is enriched with the vibrancy of participation and competition,” the statement added.

While affirming that the successful conduct of the elections further strengthened democratic institutions, Tinubu encouraged INEC to continue improving its processes.

The President called on the electoral body “to continue improving its efforts to deliver even more exemplary electoral processes.”

The New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP) has given reasons for its absence from the ballot in Saturday’s Kano State House of Assembly by-elections. The party said it withdrew its candidates to avoid disqualification by the electoral body.

The by-elections were conducted in Ungogo and Kano Municipal constituencies after the deaths of two lawmakers, Aminu Sa’ad Ungogo and Sarki Aliyu. Both lawmakers passed away on the same day, creating vacancies in the state assembly.

Speaking on Sunday, the Kano State Publicity Secretary of the NNPP, Engr. Ibrahim Karaye, said the party initially presented candidates for the polls. “NNPP is the first party that announced the current APC candidates as its candidates,” Karaye said.

He explained that the party adopted the children and family members of the late lawmakers as its flagbearers in order to honour the deceased and support their families. “The reason for doing that is to support their respective families and also reduce the pain of the death of their parents,” he stated.

Karaye said the situation later changed following the defection of the Kano State governor to the ruling All Progressives Congress. He alleged that the move created pressure and uncertainty for the candidates. “Fortunately, in the middle of all that, the governor defected to the ruling APC and they were confused and threatened by government agents, which forced them to align with the state government,” he said.

According to him, the NNPP reviewed the development and concluded that the candidates did not leave the party willingly. “After that, we reviewed the situation and realised that they were coerced to abandon us and join the ruling APC. We then resolved to still support them as our sole candidates,” Karaye added. He said the party later withdrew its nomination to avoid breaching electoral rules.

“For that reason, we withdrew our nomination of them for fear of double nomination that may lead to their disqualification by INEC,” he explained. Karaye insisted that the decision was taken to protect the political future of the candidates and not to abandon them. He said NNPP still stood by the candidates despite not appearing on the ballot. The by-elections were held across 1,014 polling units in 24 registration areas of Ungogo and Kano Municipal.

Observers reported peaceful voting, although turnout was low in many polling units. Major opposition parties such as the Peoples Democratic Party and the African Democratic Congress were not listed on the ballot papers.

Nevertheless, parties that took part in the election included the APC, Accord Party, APN, APP, PRP, WPP and ZLP.