The Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) has unveiled an ambitious political and legislative agenda for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), combining calls for governance reforms in the nation’s capital with a strong defence of Nigeria’s multiparty democracy amid concerns over the growing use of judicial processes in political contests.
Speaking in Abuja on Monday, ZLP National Chairman, Dan Nwanyanwu, and the party’s FCT senatorial candidate, Professor Festus Uwakhemen Asikhia, said the party was positioning itself as a credible alternative ahead of future elections, insisting that Nigerians deserve transparent governance, internal party democracy and a level political playing field.
Asikhia, who is seeking to represent the FCT in the Senate, said decades of living in Abuja had exposed him to what he described as the governance contradictions affecting residents of the territory.
According to him, despite being home to the seat of power, many FCT residents remain disconnected from effective governance due to unclear responsibilities between elected representatives and appointed officials.
“The people of the FCT appear close to power because the Presidency is here, but in reality they are often far removed from governance. Citizens do not know whether to direct their concerns to the FCT Minister, Area Council Chairmen or their elected senator. This confusion has weakened accountability and delayed solutions to critical problems,” he said.
To address the challenge, Asikhia pledged to establish a Senatorial Liaison Office that would serve as a direct channel between residents and their representative in the National Assembly.
He also identified multiple taxation as one of the major economic burdens confronting businesses and property owners in the territory.
According to him, residents are frequently compelled to pay tenement rates to Area Councils while also paying ground rents to the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), creating what he described as an unfair system that has triggered recurring legal disputes.
The ZLP candidate said he would sponsor legislation to eliminate overlapping taxes and clearly define taxing authorities within the FCT.
