The senator for the Federal Capital Territory, Ireti Kingibe, has raised concerns about the curfew set by Minister Nyesom Wike before Saturday’s area council election.
Wike had ordered that people stay indoors from 8 p.m. Friday to 6 a.m. Saturday and declared Friday a work-free day so residents could prepare for voting.
But Kingibe told Arise Television on Friday that the curfew unnecessarily restricts people’s freedom in a democratic society.
She said election materials are already in place and that residents do not understand why they need to stay home.
“From what I’ve seen, everything is ready, both security and logistics. We members of the area councils have checked the materials, and everything seems on track,” Kingibe said.
“People have evening activities and responsibilities. This curfew limits their freedom for no clear reason. There have been no security problems that would justify it, so it feels like an unnecessary restriction on citizens’ rights.”
