FCT youths under the auspices of the Abuja Residents Youth Association took to the streets of the FCT to pledge their partner with the FCT administration to ensure peaceful poll in the FCT.
In particular, the youths warn against suspected moves by group of people working towards truncating the smooth conduct of the forthcoming elections.
Just five days to the general elections, the youths who on Tuesday marched to the secretariat of the FCT Administration in Area 11 to register their displeasure over what they termed as suspected calculated moves to disrupt the Saturday, February 25th election, said they are ready to work with relevant stakeholders to ensure the success of the election.
The Youths were seen carrying pla cards with inscriptions like “Use your PVC for Peace”, “Vote don’t fight”, “we are not tools in the hands of trouble makers” and “We are for free, fair, credible, and peaceful elections” among others.
The President Abuja Resident Youth Association, Akoshile Mukhtar said they have resolved to corporate with security agencies to ensure they carryout massive sensitization across the FCT to ensure the forthcoming is peaceful.
On his part, the FCTA Permanent Secretary, Adesola Olusade assured Abuja residents that the election will be free, fair, and peaceful in the nation’s capital.
While appealing to the youths not to allow themselves to be used for political violence, Olusade appreciated them for sustaining the peace in Abuja.
Represented by the FCTA Director Reforms Coordination and Service Improvement, Dr. Jummai Ahmadu, the Permanent Secretary appealed to the youths to shun violence during and after the elections.
Accordingto him,” We must not allow our future to be mortgage, because you are the future of the country. So we should work together as a team to ensure that development is sustainable and the election is peaceful.
“We urge the youths and other stakeholders in the FCT to join us by the way of engaging residents to ensure that the elections are conducted peacefully.
“FCT as we know is the center of Nigeria and everything must be in other. This is because others are going to emulate what we are doing for the youth and the residents.
“We enjoy the Youths to go round to sensitive the residents about the need for free, fair and peaceful election”.
Also, The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) have concluded arrangements for the use of the Abuja International Conference Center (ICC) as the National Collation Centre for the 2023 General Elections.
The decision was taken Monday, during a meeting between officials of the FCT Administration led by the Permanent Secretary, Olusade Adesola, and a delegation from the Independent National Electoral Commission led by National Commissioner, Legal Services, May Agbamuche-Mba at the FCTA Secretariat, No. 1, Kapital Street, Garki I District, Abuja.
With this arrangement, the International Conference Centre will be handed over to INEC from today, 20th February 2023 till 15th March 2023.
Consequently, INEC will be the only statutory body to give clearance for the movement in -and- out of the International Conference Centre, Abuja.
For safe and conducive use of the facility, FCT Administration will also ensure a stable power supply to the area, fumigate the environment, clean, and maintain the vicinity, improve external lighting, and cancel all events within the period.
Accordingly, the Permanent Secretary during the meeting directed the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC) and the Parks and Recreation Department to forthwith, close all Parks around the area to enable Security Agencies to fortify the area to ward off any unauthorized access.
Adesola directed that movements of commuters around the International Conference Centre be restricted for the period and appealed to residents with residential houses around the ICC to show understanding, insisting that it is a national duty.
While declaring that the International Conference Centre is ready to be used once again to host the Nation by serving as National Collation Centre, Adesola remarked that the Center is synonymous with peace.
The Permanent Secretary said the FCT Administration gathered a high caliber of professionals during the breakfast meeting, to make the job of INEC easier.
Responding, the National Commissioner, Legal Services, May Agbamuche-Mba, who led the Independent National Electoral Commission delegation lauded the proactive measures taken by the FCT Administration; saying that “indeed, the job of INEC is made easier
