The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been asked to urgently release a notice of election for the 2025 elections to Area Councils of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The request is contained in a letter written to INEC chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu by a lawyer, Elom Aleke, who wrote on behalf of Fatima Abubakar (a politician, who plans to participate in the elections).

In the letter, received at the INEC headquarters on April 17, it was noted that the tenure of the current Chairmen of Area Councils and councillors in the FCT, who assumed office in 2022 will soon lapse.

Part of the letter reads: “We most humbly urge you to rely on Section 28(1) (a) of the Electoral Act, 2022 which empowers you and the commission to release ‘Notice of Election’ not later than 360 days before the day scheduled for holding of an election under the 2022 Electoral Act.

“We therefore, on the instruction of our client that since the three-year term of the current chairman and councilors will expire in June 2025, our client therefore, demand from you and your office to kindly release or cause to be released notice of election for the 2025 Federal Capital Territory Area Councils election forthwith in line with Section 28(1) as of the Electoral Act, 2022.

“This is to ensure that the commission will not plunge the said Area Councils into electoral crises as the commission has only two months to carry this duty.

“Take notice that, in the event that you fail to heed to our demand, we shall resort to legal action to compel you and your office to adhere to the said provision of the Electoral Act.

“This letter is predicated on the aspiration of our client, who is aspiring for the position of Councilor, Jiwa Ward in Abuja Municipal Area Council of the FCT.”