Indigenes and residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have alleged that opposition politicians sponsored the protest against President Bola Tinubu at the Shehu Shagari Central Mosque in Abuja to undermine his administration and tarnish the image of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.
The coordinator of the FCT Coalition of Youth Civil Society Groups, Ifeoma Adegbe, made the allegation on Saturday during a press conference, describing the demonstration as an attempt to create a false impression of widespread opposition to the President among FCT residents.
Adegbe claimed that some of those who protested during Tinubu’s visit on Friday, November 13, were brought into the territory from other states after learning that the President would attend prayers at the mosque.
She alleged that the mobilisation was politically motivated and aimed at generating negative publicity for the President, particularly through videos and reports circulated on social media.
Tinubu reportedly encountered boos and anti-government chants from some worshippers and youths at the mosque, with protesters shouting “Tinubu Must Go”, “Ba ma so” and “Ba ma yi” as his convoy departed.
The incident attracted widespread attention after videos emerged online, alongside reports that some individuals had thrown stones and other objects towards the presidential convoy.
However, the Presidency disputed aspects of the reports, with O’tega Ogra, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Digital Engagement, Strategy and New Media, releasing a video showing Tinubu’s departure amid greetings from some supporters.
Reacting, Adegbe said the protest should not be regarded as an expression of the collective position of FCT indigenes and residents, insisting that the coalition would not allow the actions of a few individuals to define the political choices of the territory.
“We condemn this act in its entirety. We are inhabitants of the FCT and genuine residents of this territory. We have information that these individuals were brought in from different states after learning that Mr President would be observing Friday prayers at the mosque. They were sponsored, and we strongly condemn such political manipulation,” she said.
The coalition coordinator reaffirmed the group’s support for Tinubu’s second-term ambition, saying it was targeting 65 per cent of the votes in the FCT for the President in the 2027 general elections.
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She maintained that the reported demonstration would not weaken the coalition’s resolve to mobilise support for the President.
“We know the genuine voters of the FCT, and we know the position of our people. We have promised and vowed that we must deliver 65 per cent of our votes in the FCT to President Bola Tinubu. Nobody should mistake the activities of a group of individuals for the collective decision of our people,” Adegbe stated.
She further accused opposition politicians of attempting to turn the incident into a political tool against the Tinubu administration, alleging that the ultimate objective was to discredit Wike’s performance as FCT Minister.
According to her, the narrative being promoted by the opposition was intended to portray the minister as having failed to deliver on his promises and address the development needs of the territory.
“Let me make it clear: we condemn this act, which we believe was sponsored by the opposition simply to have something to circulate on social media. Their intention is to use such incidents to deceive Nigerians, manipulate public opinion and gain cheap popularity by discrediting the good work of President Tinubu through the Honourable Minister of the FCT.
“They want to create the impression in the public domain that the FCT Minister cannot keep his promises and has done nothing for the territory. We reject that narrative. We say no to this attempt to mislead the public, and we condemn the sponsorship of any group to manufacture political disturbances in our territory,” she said.
Adegbe acknowledged that citizens had the right to criticise government policies and express dissatisfaction, but warned against the alleged use of political mobilisation to create disturbances or misrepresent the views of communities.
She urged political parties and their supporters to pursue their interests through peaceful and lawful means, particularly as political activities ahead of the 2027 elections intensify.
She also advised residents to exercise caution when consuming information about the incident on social media, noting that politically sensitive developments should be assessed carefully to avoid the spread of unverified claims.
The coalition maintained that the views and political choices of FCT residents should be determined by their genuine participation in the democratic process, not by what it described as sponsored demonstrations.
