FCT Polls: Movement Ban Excessive – Ubani

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Monday Ubani, has faulted the extended restriction of movement imposed ahead of the Federal Capital Territory Area Council elections, describing the directive as excessive.

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Ubani spoke on Friday during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, where he reacted to the movement ban spanning from Friday night to Saturday evening.

The senior lawyer said the duration of the restriction appeared disproportionate, though he acknowledged that security agencies might be acting on intelligence not available to the public.

“Let them take a hard look again at this particular directive. They should take a look at it. I mean, from 8 pm tonight till the following day. Honestly, it doesn’t make sense to me. But they may have a reason, I don’t know, because they see more than we,” he said.

Ubani noted that while there may be apparent differences in directives issued by authorities, citizens are more likely to comply with security agencies as the primary enforcers.

“The police’s own is different, though. I think we obey the police, though. So when there is conflict, who supersedes? They are the enforcers, so we obey the enforcers,”

Ubani also linked the need for sweeping movement restrictions to what he described as Nigeria’s evolving democratic culture, arguing that elections in more advanced democracies do not disrupt economic activities.

“It all speaks of our political maturity. Maybe we are not yet mature. Because if you watch developed economies when they are conducting their own election, people will just go to the office, cast their vote, and go back to work.

“It absolutely shows some level of immaturity for us to shut down the entire economy because we want to elect leaders,” he stated.

The SAN emphasised that political actors and citizens alike must commit to peaceful conduct during elections, warning that desperation for power often fuels tension and instability during the electoral process.