UK-based Nigerian political analyst and Publisher of Truth Live News, Deacon Darlington Okpebholo Ray, has described the ongoing Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council Election as a decisive rehearsal that could shape the trajectory of Nigeria’s 2027 General Election.
Speaking as a guest political analyst on Arise TV, Okpebholo Ray said early observations from correspondents in Abuja indicate a low voter turnout across key councils, including Kuje and Bwari.
“From where I am, my observation — because I have some correspondents for my newspaper in Abuja — we’ve witnessed so far low turnout, not just in Kuje, but also in Bwari area and other places,” he stated.
Despite the low turnout, the UK-based analyst expressed optimism that the exercise would remain peaceful, stressing that elections should not be treated as a matter of life and death.
“First and foremost, I expect that we have a very peaceful election because I don’t think there is anything for anybody to die for or to kill for, so to say. I thought it should be free and fair,” he added.
Okpebholo Ray further emphasized that the FCT poll presents a critical opportunity for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to test its operational capacity ahead of the 2027 general elections.
According to him, the efficiency, transparency, and credibility demonstrated in the current exercise will serve as a benchmark for public confidence in future national polls.
“INEC itself should use this as a test run for next year’s election. How successful this one is today is going to tell us how far they’re going to go in the 2027 general election,” he said.
He also noted that electoral activities occurring in Kano provide an additional platform for the commission to assess its preparedness and administrative capacity.
Describing INEC as being “on the hot seat,” Okpebholo Ray maintained that Nigerians and the international community are closely watching how the commission manages logistics, voter participation, and overall credibility.
