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The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has directed hotel owners, event centre operators and other facility managers in Abuja to engage only with political party leaderships recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) when hosting political gatherings.
The administration also warned that properties used to host meetings of what it described as unregistered or unlawful organisations could face revocation of their title documents.
The directive was issued in a statement on Friday by Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike.
FCTA PRESS RELEASE
FCTA Warns Event Centre, Hotel Owners Against Use By Illegal Organizations
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has sounded a note of warning to owners of Event Centres, Hotels and other public buildings in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT)… pic.twitter.com/1Vb4WNukcB
— Lere Olayinka – Aresa 1 (@OlayinkaLere) May 29, 2026
According to the statement, the measure is part of efforts to strengthen security in the capital city and prevent the use of public facilities for activities capable of disturbing public order.
The FCTA said it would intensify monitoring of event centres, hotels and other public buildings to ensure they are not used by groups it considers illegal or capable of threatening peace in the territory.
“In view of the need to further ensure the security of lives and properties in the FCT and sustain the efforts of security agencies in this regard, usage of Event Centres, Hotels and other public buildings will now be closely monitored,” the statement reads.
“This is aimed at ensuring that they are not used by illegal organizations for gatherings capable of disrupting the peace of the nation’s capital.”
It added that all land allocations in the FCT are tied to lawful usage, warning that sanctions would be imposed on operators who fail to comply with the new rules.
Facility owners were specifically advised to verify the legal status of groups seeking to use their premises, especially in the current political period.
The administration further stated that during political activities, hotel and event centre operators must confirm that dealings are strictly with INEC-recognised party leadership and ensure proper documentation of all engagements.
“For instance, in this political season, owners of Event Centres and Hotels in particular must ensure that they only deal with Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) recognised leadership of political parties in respect of the use of their facilities, and proper records of transactions must be kept,” the statement added.
It warned that failure to comply with the directive could lead to severe penalties, including the withdrawal of property titles.
The FCTA did not mention any specific political group or organisation in its warning but maintained that the directive is aimed at safeguarding peace and order in the Federal Capital Territory.
