- Safiu Kehinde
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has defended his visit to some polling units during last month’s council election at the capital city.
Wike maintained that he has the right to visit the polling units as the Chief Security Officer of the FCT.
The Minister made this known while fielding questions from newsmen during his monthly media parley on Monday.
Reacting to criticisms and allegations of him influencing the election with his visitation, Wike question how his visit to about 10 polling units out of over 3,000 polling units would affect the outcome of the election.
“Somebody said I move about. How many polling units do we have in FCT?
“FCT has not less than 3,000 polling units. I went to 10 polling units, for example, to check what was going on. How will taht affect 3,000 poliing units. I have the right as the governor of FCT.
“For security reason, I have to find out what is going on. I don’t need to be told. I’m not a candidate of the election.” He said.
Wike noted that the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) Electoral Act does not restrict his movement in as much as he is no a candidate.
“Read the INEC law. As a candidate, I cannot move around. I must have my agents. As the Chief Security Officer, I have a right to have a view of what is going on.
“I have a right and how does it affect or influence the election?” He said.
Wike further slammed the media over alleged propagation of criticisms as a referendum by all Nigerians on a national issue.
“I don’t know when you people do the referendum of election in Nigeria which you have always done when people go the National Assembly to say this is what Nigerians want.
“When did you conduct the referendum to say that Nigerians are not happy that I as a Minister went to 10 polling units to check what was going on as against 3,000 something.
“First of all, I was not in the ballot. And I never came out to say vote for APC. All I said was candidate supporting Mr. President are the candidates I will support.” He added.