Politics: Polls: Kalu says smooth conduct sign of free and fair poll in 2027.
The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has described the smooth conduct of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections as a positive signal for credible general elections in 2027, even as he decried low voter turnout.
Kalu, who led a high-level All Progressives Congress (APC) election monitoring team, spoke after inspecting polling units across the FCT, including the Presidential Villa precinct, Garki Village and several polling centres within the Abuja metropolis.Also on the observation tour were the Deputy House Leader, Halims Abdullahi, and the Minister of State for the FCT, Mariya Mahmoud Bunkure, alongside members of the APC campaign team.
Kalu said the party leadership, under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the APC National Working Committee deserved commendation for constituting a committee to oversee both the campaign and election process.“That decision gave us the opportunity to be involved in the planning of the campaign and to supervise the implementation of the election, ensuring that all necessary measures were put in place,” he said.According to him, the monitoring team moved around the six area councils to assess whether preparations and strategies were being implemented as planned, as well as to gauge public response to the party’s campaign messages, policies and infrastructure agenda.
Kalu, who serves as secretary of the APC campaign team, commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for what he described as early deployment of materials and personnel.“In all the places we visited, INEC’s logistics were efficient. Materials arrived on time, and ad hoc staff, including NYSC members, were well briefed on their duties. By 8:00 to 9:00 a.m., voting had commenced in most polling units,” he noted.
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He added that INEC coordinated effectively with political parties, stressing that party agents across polling units confirmed fair and equal treatment, with no evidence of preferential conduct. The Deputy Speaker also praised the conduct of security agencies, saying their visible presence helped maintain peace throughout the voting and counting process.
“From interviews with voters at the polling units, the exercise remained peaceful from accreditation to vote counting. I observed the completion of EC8A forms and the availability of the IReV portal for result transmission, in line with the Electoral Act,” Kalu said.He expressed optimism that if elections across Nigeria are conducted similarly, public confidence in the electoral system would be significantly strengthened ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Kalu, who expressed optimism that the APC would sweep the poll in the entire area councils in the FCT, praised concern over voter apathy, noting that turnout was lower than expected in several polling units visited.“That is worrisome. For those who stayed away due to fear of insecurity or manipulation, I want to assure them that today’s process was peaceful, orderly and transparent.
Citizens must come out to participate. Democracy thrives on active civic engagement,” he urged.At several polling units monitored, election officials confirmed that voting started early, party agents from seven political parties were present, and results were sorted transparently in collaboration with party representatives, with no major challenges recorded.
