By Sarah NEGEDU
Business activities at the FCT Administration was almost grounded on Friday when supporters of the various council chairmen elect blocked entrance to the premises protesting the suspension of the inauguration of the new area council chairmen earlier scheduled for today.
The protesters who stormed the FCTA Secretariat at Area 11 tried to forced their way through to the Minister’s office as the security personnel battle to prevent them from invading the premises.
The protesters were seen bearing placards with inscriptions like “Give us our rights,” “We reject the Kangaroo judgement,” “You were sworn in with the old electoral act, the new Chairmen should be sworn in with the new electoral act”, among several other demands.
Permanent Secretary of the FCTA, Mr Olusade Adesola, who was on ground to address the protesters on behalf of the two ministers of FCT who are both out of the country, appealed to them to remain calm as the administration has already filled processes for appeal on the matter.
“We know the court is populated by people with dignity and integrity and will look into the appeal.”
He asked the protesters to resist the urge of being used by politicians to truncate the process, assuring that the minister will not rest until justice is done on the matter.
“Let’s educate ourselves and resist the urge to be used to truncate a proper procedure. But un the part of the FCT, I want to assure you that justice will be done.
Recall that the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello, had on Thursday suspended the planned inauguration of the Six Area Council Chairmen billed for Friday, 20th of May 2022.
The suspension followed a judgment by the FCT high Court which extended the tenure of office of the Chairmen of the Area Councils in FCT from three to four years in line with the provisions of the recently signed Electoral Act of 2022.
