By Wumi Tewogbade, Abuja

Ahead of the Saturday, February 21 Area Council elections in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the Minister, Nyesom Wike, has announced work free day on Friday, as well as restriction of movement from 8pm on Friday to 6pm on Saturday.

The Minister, who made this known in a special broadcast on national television and radio stations on Thursday, urged residents of the FCT to come out enmasse to vote for candidates of their choice.

The broadcast read; “On Saturday, February 21, we will all have a crucial opportunity to shape the future of our great Federal Capital Territory. The election of either new or returning Chairmen and Councilors for the six area councils is a momentous occasion, and I urge you to come out in your numbers to exercise your right to vote.

“I urge you to go to the polls with a sense of purpose and responsibility.

“As we exercise our democratic right, let us do so in an orderly and lawful manner. Let us respect the rules, respect each other, and respect the outcome of the election. We must show the world that we are a mature and responsible electorate, capable of conducting ourselves with dignity and decorum.

“At this juncture, with the approval of the President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, I hereby declare Friday, February 20, 2026, as a Work Free Day to enable movement of residents to their various communities to participate in the elections.

“Similarly, the President has approved the restriction of movement within the FCT from 8pm of Friday, February 20 to 6pm of Saturday, February 21, 2026. Consequently, all security agencies are directed to ensure strict compliance with this directive.

“Let me again use this opportunity to appreciate President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for signing the Electoral Act Amendment bill 2026 into law. This demonstrates his commitment to strengthening our democratic institutions and ensuring that our electoral processes are free, fair, and transparent.

“My dear residents, Democracy has always been a work-in-progress due to the evolving democratic process. However, we will keep getting better by always looking into the Electoral Act with a view to strengthening our democratic process.

“To all FCT residents, I urge you to make your voice heard. Come out on Saturday, February 21, 2026 and vote for the candidates of their choice.

“Our prayer, as an administration, is that the elections will facilitate the emergence of such quality leaders that will contribute meaningfully to development, peace and prosperity in the FCT.

“Together, let us build a brighter future for ourselves, our children, and our territory.”

By Wumi Tewogbade, Abuja

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has said he will only support whoever supports President Bola Tinubu’s reflection, irrespective of political party in the FCT Area Councils’ election, scheduled for February 21.

Wike stated this in Abuja on Saturday, during Senator Sandy Onor’s 60th birthday, a celebration of six decades of scholarship, leadership, service and meaningful impact.

The Minister, who said he owed no one an apology for supporting Tinubu, promised to support any candidate that supports the President irrespective of party affiliation.

“We have the FCT Area Council election coming up on February 21 and I have a duty to support any candidate that supports President Tinubu to win.

“It is also my duty to ensure that any candidate that is not supporting Tinubu does not win in the election, and I owe no apology on my stand,” Wike said.

Speaking on the celebrant, the Minister described him as a credible ally, a trustworthy friend and good brother.

According to him, Onor is not just a friendly but a reliable friend, even in times of trouble and that is when you know who is a friend.

“I will continue to be with you and work with you, because I know even if I am not alive today, you will not abandon my family,” Wike said.

Reading the citation of the celebrant, Prof. Anthony Eyang said, Onor, born on February 14, 1966 in Ikom, Cross River State, was raised in an environment deeply rooted in community values, discipline and faith.

Eyang said that the journey of Onor, a Professor of History began from the lecture halls of the University of Calabar to the floor of the Nigerian Senate, and onward to Cross River State politics.

“This reflects a life devoted to learning, leadership, and the advancement of society,” he said.

Earlier, Chairman planning committee, Senator Philip Aduda, said that the event was a thanksgiving of God’s faithfulness on Onor’s life both as an academic and a politician.

On his part, Mr Samuel Otom, former governor of Benue, described Onor as an “icon”, a great Nigerian, and a man who had prepared himself and fit for leadership.

Otom, who stood in for the Chairman of the Occasion, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, former governor of Abia State and Ambassador designate, equally described Onor as a “good man.”

Former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Kalu Agabi (SAN) described the celebrant as a courageous and intelligent man, saying; “I love Senator Sandy Onor because he is not one of those who stigmatize the constitution as a product of the military. He is a courageous and intelligent man.”

Prof. Dave Imbua, while presenting a Festchrift, a book written by scholars in honour of the celebrant, said Onor has remained a notable historian among academics.

Ikpeazu unveiled the book on behalf of Wike and his friends, with N50 million.

In his remarks, the celebrant said he had realised in his 60th year of life that it was good to be a man of excellence and a man of character, adding that hard work pays.

Onor, however, said that “everything becomes insignificant if the finger of God is absent”.

He thanked his family, friends and well-wishers for the show of love, adding that their support would be taken for granted.

By Saint Mugaga, Abuja

Former chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Army and representative of the North East on the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Hon. Abdulrazak Namdas has said the All Progressives Congress (APC) needs Governor Ahmad Fintiri to establish its hold on the state and region.

Namdas, in a statement on Friday cautioned those working against the planned alleged defection of the governor from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC to stop ‘grandstanding.’

“I have read with dismay the interviews, articles, and Facebook posts by some of our party members in Adamawa State criticising the alleged defection of Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), emphasising their intention to resist it.

“Firstly, I want to state categorically that the APC is undoubtedly the largest and strongest opposition political party in Adamawa State. In fact, if it were not for the behavior of some of our members in past elections, who allegedly engaged in anti-party activities, the APC would not have lost those elections, nor would it have failed to secure the governorship. We would have been the ruling party.

“As it stands, if we—stakeholders, party leaders, and supporters across the state—set aside our differences and interests and unite with a common purpose to deliver the APC in 2027, we will surely achieve this by God’s grace.

“However, considering the strength of the ruling PDP in the state, led by Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, the emergence of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) under former Vice President His Excellency Atiku Abubakar, and the defection of several notable former members—such as former Governor Bindow Jibrilla, Senator Aisha Dahiru Binani, Senator Ishiaku Abbo, and Sadiq Ibrahim Dasin—from the APC to the ADC, it is clear that we undoubtedly need Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri in our fold”, he stated.

According to Namdas, “If Fintiri is indeed joining the APC as alleged, he will bring along his deputy, 24 commissioners, 3 senators, 5 members of the House of Representatives, 16 state legislators, 21 local government chairmen, 226 councillors, special advisers, assistants, party executives, and other stakeholders.

“However, some are questioning the value he will add by joining the APC. I believe we should instead ask those raising false alarms what value they have actually contributed to the APC.

“I understand that some political operatives may lose influence if Fintiri ultimately joins the APC, which is why they are encouraging some of our members to prevent him from doing so.

“As governor, Fintiri has transformed Adamawa State to such an extent that both President Muhammadu Buhari and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu have recognized his outstanding performance in infrastructure development.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has agreed to visit Yola on Monday, February 16, 2026, to commission additional projects at the invitation of Governor Ahmadu Fintiri.

“As an appointee of the President, a former two-term member of the House of Representatives, and a gubernatorial aspirant in the 2023 election, I would like the governor to join the APC because I recognize the value he will bring, even if others do not.

“Our state party executives, together with their local government and ward counterparts, have done their best to guide the party to its current position, even without a sitting governor.

“However, I believe they will achieve even greater success if the party includes a sitting governor. Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, the party leader in the state, has performed exceptionally well. His primary focus as party leader is to ensure that President Tinubu wins the 2027 election.

“Therefore, he is committed to doing whatever it takes, within the bounds of the law, to achieve this goal. In light of this, we should join our party leader in welcoming Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri to the APC”, he submitted.