There was commotion at the National Assembly complex on Tuesday as security operatives fired teargas to disperse a group of protesters from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), who were demonstrating against their alleged exclusion from the board of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
The protesters, largely indigenous FCT residents, accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of diverting the FCT’s representative slot on the board to a senator from Benue State, a move they described as a gross injustice and an affront to their constitutional rights.
Eyewitnesses say the protest, which began peacefully, turned chaotic when police operatives intervened with force. Videos circulating on social media captured scenes of demonstrators being chased away while repeatedly shouting “peaceful protesters!” amid clouds of teargas.
Some of the demonstrators alleged they were harassed and physically assaulted, despite peacefully demanding recognition and inclusion in federal appointments.
“We are not asking for anything extraordinary,” one protester said. “We are simply demanding that our rightful place on the NCDC board be given to us—not to outsiders.”
The protest has reignited conversations around the political marginalization of FCT indigenes, many of whom claim they are routinely sidelined in federal representation despite Abuja being Nigeria’s capital.
As the situation unfolds, civil society organizations have called for an investigation into the excessive use of force by security operatives and have urged the Senate to clarify the rationale behind the board appointment.
This incident adds to growing public scrutiny over federal appointments and inclusion, with many Nigerians demanding transparency, fairness, and respect for indigenous rights in national policymaking.
