By Fatima Saka
ABUJA — A coalition of non-indigenous members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) residing in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) and Bwari Area Council on Thursday staged a protest at the party’s national headquarters in Abuja, alleging widespread exclusion and manipulation in the recently concluded National Assembly primaries.
Led by Dr. Odekina A. John, the group said their action was driven by loyalty to the APC and commitment to the success of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, stressing that they chose a peaceful approach rather than street demonstrations to register their grievances.
Addressing journalists, Dr. Odekina declared that non-indigenous residents, who he claimed constitute about 85 per cent of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) population, were completely sidelined during the primaries conducted on May 15, 2026.
According to him, “There was no election in AMAC and Bwari. From morning till evening, no electoral materials were deployed to any polling unit, yet results were later announced. This is unacceptable and a clear case of disenfranchisement.”
The coalition, in a communiqué issued at the end of the protest, alleged that the process was deliberately manipulated to favour indigenous candidates, warning that such actions could trigger a repeat of the party’s poor electoral performance in the FCT during the 2023 general elections.
They further claimed that Hon. Faustina Ngozi Egbunike, popularly known as “Mama Future” and described as a widely supported House of Representatives aspirant, was denied the opportunity to contest despite enjoying significant grassroots backing.
The group accused the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, and area council chairmen of interfering in the APC’s internal processes, alleging that materials were withheld and results written without voting. They described the situation as “a dangerous surrender of party structure to external forces.”
“We cannot allow a repeat of the 2023 mistake where the APC lost all seats in the FCT due to exclusion. Ignoring the voting strength of non-indigenous residents is politically risky,” the communiqué stated.
The protesters also warned of a potential “revenge vote” in 2027 if the grievances are not addressed, noting that the FCT recorded one of the lowest scores for the APC in previous elections.
Among their demands, the coalition called for the immediate cancellation of the primaries in AMAC and Bwari, citing the absence of any credible voting process. They urged the party leadership to conduct a fresh, transparent primary election under the supervision of the APC national secretariat and independent observers.
In the alternative, they demanded the outright restoration of the ticket to Egbunike, whom they described as “the most popular and widely accepted candidate in the constituency.”
Speaking during the protest, a member of the coalition, Clara Egbo, said the exclusion was intentional to prevent Egbunike from emerging victorious.
“They know she would win if a proper election was conducted. That is why they avoided holding it,” she said, while appealing to the party leadership to ensure fairness and inclusiveness.
An elder in the coalition, Hon. Femi Sanusi, warned that the APC risks losing the FCT again if corrective steps are not taken urgently.
“A political party should not be run as a family affair. If this injustice is not corrected, the consequences will be severe at the polls,” he cautioned.
Also speaking, Tijani Abdulmumini, representing youth supporters, insisted that the group would continue to press for justice, noting that young people in the constituency overwhelmingly support Egbunike due to her contributions to youth development.
The coalition emphasized that their agitation goes beyond individual ambition, describing it as a struggle for equity, inclusion, and the survival of the APC in the nation’s capital.
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“This is about justice. A party that ignores the majority of its members cannot claim to be national. The leadership must act now before the situation worsens,” the group said.
Distinct News Nigeria reports that as of the time of filing this report, the APC national leadership had yet to officially respond to the allegations.
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