FCT Minister Of State Jeered By Party Supporters At INEC Presentation of Certificate Of Return
The Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Hajiya Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, suffered a political miscalculation on Friday as she was jeered by political supporters at the presentation of certificates of Return to elected Area Councils Chairmen.
This was as the chairmen of the two leading political parties in the FCT namely the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Abdulmalik Usman and Sunday Zaka respectively were conspicuously absent at the INEC presentation of Certificate of Return to newly elected FCT Councils officials.
It was not a prearranged thing but was ignited by Hajiya Tijjani Aliyu’s speech in which she proffered a suggestion to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to devise an alternative where people will be able to vote manually if there are technical glitches.
Immediately the FCT Minister of State made the suggestion, the crowd of political supporters that thronged to the event ranted the air with shouts of ‘Karya ne, ba ma so’, in Hausa literally translated to mean “It’s a lie, we don’t want it”.
Attempts by Hajjiya Tijjani to pacify the crowd majorly made up of political supporters did not yield the desired result as the crowd became more uncontrollable as the crowd shouted her down with sounds of “Ba ma so’, meaning “We don’t want”.
At this stage, the Senator Philip Aduda, quietly stood up and left the venue of the presentation of Certificates of Return as the FCT Minister of State was being booed.
While the drama lasted, security personnel deployed to the venue were overwhelmed as the unable to control the rowdy party supporters.
The FCT Minister of State had to drop the microphone and went round to exchange pleasantries with some dignitaries before leaving the venue.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner for the Federal Capital Territory, Alhaji Yahaya Bello later presented certificates to the winners of last Saturday FCT Council polls at a ceremony attended by top politicians.
Among those presented with INEC Certificate of Return were the Chairmen elect of AMAC, Kwali, Gwagwalada, Bwari and Kuje Area Councils.
While congratulating the elected chairmen, The INEC REC urged stakeholders to partner with the electoral Commission to ensure a better and smooth conduct of elections in 2023 and called on party leaders and stakeholders across the FCT to sensitise their people on the need to collect their Voters’ card.
There were complaints of malfunctioning of INEC BVAS during the FCT Council election last Saturday.