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Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Jibrin Samuel Okutepa, has condemned the February 21 FCT Area Council elections, describing the exercise as “democratic sabotage” and a “predetermined selection.”
In a statement posted on his X account, Okutepa said the process did not meet the standard of a free, fair, and credible election.
He alleged that the declaration of a work-free day before the polls, along with reported movement restrictions, raised concerns about the integrity of the process.
He referenced viral images of allegedly altered EC8A result forms, claiming they showed irregularities such as vote additions and ballot manipulation.
He described such acts as unconstitutional and said they undermine the principle that sovereignty belongs to the people.
Okutepa warned that without urgent reforms, the 2027 general elections could face even greater credibility challenges. He called for:
An end to manual vote collation, cancellation of results with visible alterations, full adoption of digital electoral processes, and stronger accountability for electoral officials.
He also criticized the opposition, describing it as divided and ineffective in challenging alleged irregularities.
Okutepa, founder of J.S. Okutepa SAN & Company, said Nigeria’s democracy is in serious danger and urged systemic reforms to protect future elections.
Reactions continue as concerned Nigerians debate the credibility of the FCT polls and the broader state of electoral integrity.
