Stakeholders from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have staged a strong protest against their exclusion from the list of 65 ambassadorial nominees recently forwarded to the Senate by President Bola Tinubu.
At a joint news conference in Abuja on Thursday, the FCT Stakeholders’ Assembly described the omission as a “grave injustice” and a “deliberate and calculated attempt to violate the constitutional and human rights” of the original inhabitants and residents of the nation’s capital.
“The Original Inhabitants of the FCT will no longer accept the persistent violation of our rights. We will resist any attempt to reduce us to second-class citizens in our own homeland,” declared Aliyu Daniel Kwali, President of the Assembly.
Kwali stated that the latest exclusion fits a “worrisome pattern,” citing the recent constitution of the Governing Board of the North Central Development Commission (NCDC) without a single FCT representative as another example.
The group has issued a direct appeal to President Tinubu to immediately review the ambassadorial list and ensure the inclusion of at least one FCT original inhabitant. They also called for the appointment of at least two FCT indigenes to the NCDC Governing Board.
Furthermore, the stakeholders appealed to the FCT Minister, Barrister Nyesom Wike, to protect their interests, citing Section 299(a) of the Constitution which places on him the full responsibilities of a state governor.
The protest highlights ongoing tensions over political representation and inclusion for the original inhabitants of Nigeria’s capital territory, especially as the country approaches the 2027 general elections.
Tags:
Federal Capital Territory, Abuja Indigenes, Ambassadorial List, Bola Tinubu, Political Inclusion, Nyesom Wike, Protest, Constitutional Rights
Disclaimer:
This article reports on a public protest and the grievances of a specific stakeholder group. CDA News presents this as a matter of political discourse and public interest. The ambassadorial list is currently before the Senate for confirmation.
© 2025 CDA News. All rights reserved.
