Tension as Protesters Storm Streets of Abuja, Shutdown FCT Minister's Office, Give Reason
- Abuja residents have taken to the streets to protest a court ruling approving tenure extension for chairmen and councillors of the six FCT area councils
- The protesters in their numbers shut down the office of the FCT minister, Mohammed Bello while calling for the immediate swearing-in of the newly elected council officials
- According to the protesters, there should be an immediate inauguration of the FCT council officials
Some residents of the Abuja Municipal Area Council on Friday, May 20, protested the suspension of the inauguration of the chairmen and councillors of the six area councils in the Federal Capital Territory.
The protesters stormed the office of the minister of the FCT, Mohammed Bello, to register their grievance over the suspension of the inauguration and swearing-in ceremony for the officials.
Source: UGC
Daily Trust reports that the protest followed an FCT High Court judgement which approved the extension of the officials' tenure by one year in accordance with the new Electoral Act.
The Act in its provision stipulates a four-year term for area council chairmen and councillors in the FCT.
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Also on Thursday, May 19, the FCT Administration announced the suspension of the inauguration, citing the ruling of an FCT High Court.
In his reaction, Bello said as law-abiding administration, the FCTA would abide by the ruling of the court.
Speaking during the protest, the protesters demanded an immediate inauguration of the newly elected officials.
One of the protesters, John Shaghayi, said such a ruling by the court cannot stand.
Shaghayi noted that the newly amended Electoral Act came to effect long after the outgoing chairmen were elected.
The tenure of the old officials - the six area council chairmen and their 62 councillors - who were elected in February expired today.
PDP moves against FCT LG chairmen, councillors, prepares for swearing-in of newly elected officials
The judiciary had been accused of working with the ruling All Progressives Congress to truncate Nigeria's democracy.
The allegation was made against the institution and the political party by the Peoples Democratic Party
According to the PDP, the judiciary worked with the APC to truncate Nigeria's democracy through a court judgement elongating the tenure of chairmen and councillors of the FCT area councils.
Group blasts minister for closing Dei-Dei market over okada riders, traders clash, accuses him of apartheid
The minister of the Federal Capital Territory had been under fire for closing the Dei-Dei Timber Market while commercial motorcyclists continue to operate after the incident that led to the killing of people and burning of shops.
HURIWA accused Mohammed Bello of being partial by closing the market while allowing the motorcyclists to continue operations despite being a party to the crisis on Wednesday, May 18.
According to HURIWA, the minister should either reopen the maket and find way to rebuild it or ban the operation of bike men in the are as well.
Source: Legit.ng
