Group Seeks End To Political Exclusion In FCT

A coalition of indigenous groups and long-term residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Sunday urged President Bola Tinubu to appoint the current FCT Minister, Barrister Nyesom Wike as the city’s interim Administrator following the agitation to change the FCT status to a state.

THE WHISTLER recalls that a
coalition recently wrote to Tinubu, urging him to change the FCT’s status to a state.

To actualise this, the group, operating under the auspices of the FCT Senior Citizens Forum, urged the president to appoint Wike to hasten the proposed transition of Abuja to a state.

Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja, the Coordinator of the forum,
Elder Danjuma Tanko Dara, said the earlier preparation would allow the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to commence preparation for the 2027 governorship election in the FCT.

He said, “To ensure stability in any transition, we call on President Bola Tinubu to consider appointing the current Minister of the FCT, Barrister Nyesom Wike, as a potential Interim Administrator of the territory.

“This could allow ongoing projects to reach fruition while granting INEC the time necessary to prepare for a historic gubernatorial election, marking the end of political exclusion in Abuja”.

He also called on the INEC
Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan (SAN), to initiate preparations for the conduct of a governorship election in Abuja in the 2027 general elections.

He stated, “The demand for full statehood is not just a legal opinion; it is a necessary clarification of the constitutional future of the FCT.

“For far too long, citizens of Abuja have participated in presidential elections but have been denied the fundamental right to elect their own chief executive and legislative representatives. This democratic deficit must end now.”

Dara appealed to the INEC Chairman to set in motion the processes for a potential FCT governorship election; voter registration, constituency delineation for a State House of Assembly, and election logistics planning.

Dara, however, condemned recent displacements within the FCT, which according to him, affected both indigenous inhabitants and long-term residents of the city centre.

“As we advocate for this new era, all Nigerians residing in the FCT deserve equality and inclusion in governance and social management. Only through total inclusiveness can the federal government ensure harmony and justice,” he said.

Group Seeks End To Political Exclusion In FCT is first published on The Whistler Newspaper