Indigenous residents of Abuja have renewed calls for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to be granted state-like status, urging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to implement a recent Court of Appeal ruling affirming this.

They are also demanding that the FCT have a democratically elected governor by 2027, proposing that the current FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, be designated as Sole Administrator until such an election takes place.

The demand was made by a coalition of indigenous groups and long-term residents, organized under the FCT Senior Citizens Forum, during a press briefing in Abuja titled “Fulfilling the Democratic Status of Abuja.”

Elder Danjuma Tanko Dara, the forum’s coordinator, emphasized that the Court of Appeal ruling is legally binding and should guarantee residents the right to elect their own governor and members of a State House of Assembly.

“For too long, citizens of Abuja have been treated as second-class voters, participating in presidential elections but denied the right to elect their own chief executive and legislature.

This democratic deficit must end now,” Elder Dara said.

The group also urged Professor Joash Amupitan, the newly appointed INEC Chairman, to begin preparations for the FCT governorship election, while maintaining stability through Wike’s temporary role as Sole Administrator.

This, they argued, would allow ongoing projects to continue and give INEC sufficient time to organize a fair election.

Dr. Zikirullahi Ibrahim, Executive Director of CHRICED, also supported the push for statehood, stressing that the FCT is large enough to accommodate a state where indigenous residents can manage their own affairs.

Speaking at a journalists’ training in Abuja, he highlighted the historical neglect of Abuja Original Inhabitants (AOIs), who remain largely landless and stateless nearly five decades after the federal government acquired their lands.

“Whenever development occurs, bulldozers and military personnel demolish homes and erase communities, treating the land as if it was uninhabited. The AOIs have yet to receive promised compensation or legal recognition,” Dr. Ibrahim explained.

Since its creation, the FCT has been administered by a minister appointed by the president, unlike Nigeria’s 36 states with elected governors.

Advocates argue that this system denies the territory’s residents full democratic representation and perpetuates their marginalization.

The House of Representatives has suspended plenary for one week following a protest by local contractors who blocked access to the National Assembly Complex on Tuesday over unpaid contract fees for projects executed since 2024.

Daily Trust reports that the indigenous contractors staged the demonstration to demand settlement of outstanding payments from the federal government.

Lawmakers said the suspension was necessary due to the difficulty in accessing the National Assembly Complex amid the protest, which they said could continue for a week.

The House also noted that the break would provide time for its leadership to engage the executive branch and ensure contractors are paid, preventing further disruption of parliamentary activities.

The suspension followed a motion of urgent national importance raised by Minority Leader Kingsley Chinda, who highlighted the “dire plight” of contractors.

He explained that the protest was triggered by the government’s failure to implement President Bola Tinubu’s directives for the Ministers of Finance and Budget to pay local contractors immediately.

Chinda said,

“Our local contractors, our brothers and sisters, besieged the National Assembly today, protesting that they have not been paid for jobs completed under the 2024 budget. This non-payment has caused untold hardship to our people, and it is our duty as Parliament to take a stand.”

The House resolved to give the Ministers of Finance, Wale Edun; Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu; and the Accountant-General of the Federation seven days to settle all outstanding payments and fully implement the 2025 budget.

Deputy Speaker Benjamin Okezie Kalu, who presided over the session, put the motion to a vote, and it was unanimously adopted.

Drama ensued when Hon. Kabiru Ahmadu Mai-Palace (Zamfara State) moved a follow-up motion urging the House to suspend plenary sessions for a week until the executive responded to the ultimatum. He stated,

“The urgency and sensitivity of this matter demand that we suspend our sittings for one week so that the leadership can engage the executive to find a lasting solution.”

Supporting the motion, House Committee on Rules and Business Chairman Francis Waive explained that the decision was practical given that the protesting contractors had vowed to continue demonstrations for a week, obstructing access to the Assembly.

“Members came late today because the roads were blocked by the protesters. It’s sensible to step back and allow the executive to act,” Waive said.

With unanimous approval by voice vote, Kalu ruled that all plenary activities would be adjourned until next Tuesday, pending the outcome of leadership consultations with the executive branch.

The House also mandated its leadership to ensure strict compliance with the resolution and report back within a week, warning of “further drastic legislative action” should the executive fail to act.

A minor drama unfolded at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on Tuesday when Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan confronted Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) officials who had seized her passport.

The lawmaker, who went live on social media, explained that she was traveling abroad after concluding events marking her second year in office. Last week, reports circulated that Natasha had invited colleagues, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio, to her celebrations.

At the airport, officials reportedly attempted to prevent her from leaving. In a viral video, the senator could be seen protesting the seizure:

“Why are you withholding my passport? Hello, fellow Nigerians. I have completed the celebration of my second year in office and decided to take a week off. My passport is being withheld again. I have committed no offense, and there is no court order preventing me from traveling.”

She further alleged that during a previous incident, an officer told her the Senate President had instructed the withholding of her passport, claiming her international media interviews “smeared the country’s image.”

A female official behind the counter apologized, prompting Natasha to reply:

“Sorry is not enough. Can you please let me have my passport? You can’t keep doing this to me all the time.”

The senator noted that during the earlier incident, she had to call an influential figure to secure her passport and stated that President Bola Tinubu had directed the termination of politically motivated cases against her.

Shortly after her protest, a male officer handed back her passport, allowing her to proceed with her travel.

Opposition parties and voters in Niger State have rejected the results of Saturday’s local government elections, citing alleged irregularities, voter disenfranchisement, and manipulation in favor of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Reports from across the state’s 25 local government areas indicated delays or complete absence of electoral officials and materials at polling units.

Opposition parties accused the Niger State Independent Electoral Commission (NSIEC) of colluding with the APC to suppress voter turnout and influence outcomes, claims yet to be addressed by the commission or the ruling party.

Although official results were still being collated at press time, the APC appeared to be leading by wide margins in both chairmanship and councillorship races.

Protests erupted in Suleja, Wushishi, Lavun, and other LGAs, where voters alleged intimidation and result manipulation by security agents.

At the Veterinary Polling Unit in Nassarawa A Ward, Chanchaga LGA, voter Musa Usman Wada said the voter register had been altered, excluding hundreds of voters.

“We expected about 1,500 voters, but the register showed under 500 names,” he said. “Voting didn’t start until late, and many left out of frustration.”

In Rijau LGA, opposition parties claimed no election took place. PDP Returning Officer Abdullahi Shehu Mohammed alleged that most electoral materials were withheld.

“Of the 40,000 ballot papers meant for Rijau, only 35,800 were distributed. The Electoral Officer was missing, and no supervisors or presiding officers were present,” he said.

The SDP Chairman for Chanchaga LGA, Hon. Isah Barau, called the exercise “neither credible nor transparent,” noting that only 110,000 of 220,000 registered voters received ballot papers.

PDP Secretary Bello Nasiru Gabas alleged harassment and detention of party officials by security agents.

“Our deputy chairman was arrested, vehicles seized, and shots fired to disperse us. This was daylight robbery, not an election,” Gabas said.

Efforts to reach APC State Publicity Secretary Musa Danjuma Sarkinkaji for comment were unsuccessful.

Meanwhile, Governor Umar Bago’s convoy was attacked on Sunday in his hometown of Bida by angry youths.

The mob reportedly pelted vehicles with stones, injuring several people, including the governor’s aide Abubakar Mustapha.

The unrest reportedly followed a failed cash distribution exercise allegedly organized by the governor ahead of the elections, which sparked outrage when only a few people received money.

Youths also vandalized the governor’s billboards and vehicles.

Several attempts to reach the governor’s aides for comment went unanswered.

In a related development, Niger State APC suspended Yusuf Kure Baraje, representing Bosso/Paikoro Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, over alleged anti-party activities during the council polls.

The suspension letter, signed by APC Paikoro LGA Chairman Baba Achi, directed Baraje to withdraw from all party activities and stop identifying as an APC member.

Baraje was accused of undermining incumbent council chairman Aminu Umar Yadayi.

The suspension highlights ongoing factional disputes within the party, which date back to a controversial consensus arrangement last year.

A High Court in Oyo State has ordered the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to proceed with its National Convention scheduled for Saturday, 15th, and Sunday, 16th November 2025 in Ibadan, the state capital.

Justice A. L. Akintola, in an interim order delivered on Monday, 3rd November, directed the PDP to conduct the convention and elect new national officers according to its approved guidelines, timetable, and schedule of activities.

The order is effective pending the hearing of a Motion on Notice filed before the court.

The court also instructed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to attend, observe, and monitor the convention in Ibadan as scheduled.

The suit was filed by Folahan Malomo Adelabi, a PDP aspirant for Deputy National Organizing Secretary, who argued that the party had met all statutory requirements to hold the convention.

The defendants include the PDP, its National Chairman and National Working Committee, members of the National Convention Organizing Committee, and INEC.

Justice Akintola said the claimant had demonstrated urgency and merit in seeking the court’s intervention, and granted the interim orders to ensure transparency and adherence to party guidelines.

The development follows a Federal High Court in Abuja ruling by Justice James Omotosho, which had restrained the PDP from holding the convention.

The Abuja court held that the party failed to conduct valid congresses in 14 states before issuing the convention notice, violating its own constitution, the 1999 Constitution, and the Electoral Act.

Following the Abuja ruling, PDP National Chairman Ambassador Iliya Damagum convened an emergency NWC meeting and suspended four members loyal to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike for alleged gross indiscipline.

Those suspended included National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu, Legal Adviser Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN), Deputy Legal Adviser Okechukwu Osuoha, and National Organising Secretary Umar Bature.

Deputy National Secretary Setonji Koshoedo was appointed Acting National Secretary, and Jacob Otorkpa took interim charge of the legal department.

In response, the Wike-aligned members led by Samuel Anyanwu suspended Ambassador Damagum and five other national officers, citing incompetence, financial mismanagement, and disobedience to court orders.

Anyanwu named Mohammed Abdulrahman (National Vice Chairman, North Central) as Acting National Chairman.

Others suspended included National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba, Deputy National Chairman (South) Taofeek Arapaja, National Financial Secretary Daniel Woyenguikoro, National Youth Leader Sulaiman Kadade, and Deputy National Secretary Setonji Koshoedo.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has formally written to the Senate, seeking the confirmation of Dr. Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh, SAN, as a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

If confirmed, Dr. Udeh will take over the ministerial slot previously held by Uche Nnaji.

The letter, addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, was read during Tuesday’s plenary session.

President Tinubu described Dr. Udeh, who currently serves as Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Enugu State, as a nominee of “proven integrity and competence.”

In the correspondence, the President wrote:
“I am pleased to forward to the Senate the nomination of Dr. Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), for confirmation as Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. While I trust that this request will receive the Senate’s usual expeditious consideration, please accept, Mr. Senate President, and distinguished senators, the assurances of my highest regards.”

Following the reading of the letter, Senate President Akpabio referred the nomination to the Committee of the Whole for immediate consideration, signaling that the process for Dr. Udeh’s confirmation will begin promptly.

Dr. Udeh is widely regarded as a distinguished legal practitioner and scholar.

Should the Senate confirm his appointment, Dr. Udeh will succeed Chief Uche Nnaji who resigned after allegations of certificate forgery.