AEDC Bows to Pressure, Cancels Election Day Blackout After Residents Fumed Over ‘Suspicious’ Maintenance

In a major win for voter convenience, the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) has beat a hasty retreat, announcing on Friday night that it has suspended all planned maintenance work scheduled for the FCT Area Council election day. The reversal comes after a wave of “deeply troubled” reactions from residents and political leaders who viewed the prospect of a seven-hour blackout during a crucial vote as an invitation to chaos.

The controversy erupted earlier on Friday when AEDC published a notice stating that the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) would be shutting down a major transformer at the Katampe Substation on Saturday. The planned outage, which was set to run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., would have plunged strategic areas like Gwarinpa, Bwari, and the Idu rail corridor into darkness just as voters were heading to the polls.

Critics, including high-profile political figures, were quick to flag the timing. ADC chieftain Austin Okai publicly questioned the motive behind cutting power during an election, especially amid unconfirmed rumors of potential internet throttles. “Why would AEDC cut power during the elections?” Okai asked on social media. “This is unfair to the voters of the FCT.”

Sensing the growing tension, AEDC management confirmed in a late-night statement that it had engaged with the TCN to “reassess the situation.”

“Following the concerns of our customers, AEDC has engaged TCN, and TCN has subsequently postponed the earlier announced maintenance exercise,” the company posted on its official X handle. “The decision was taken in response to public concerns and to ensure the smooth running of essential services.”

With the “power struggle” resolved, residents in the affected suburbs can now focus on the ballot box rather than charging their devices. For INEC, the availability of electricity will be a welcome boost for the BVAS machines and the transparency of the counting process, ensuring that the “State of Harmony” promised for the FCT elections isn’t marred by a preventable blackout.