A former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, has challenged Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, over his declaration that Abuja is not available for protests on August 1.

Sowore, in a social media post on Friday, declared that the proposed nationwide protests will commence in Abuja.

He said, “It is starting from and in Abuja!”

This comes after Wike announced that August 1 has been reserved for the chairmen of the six Area Councils of the FCT to present certificates of recognition to traditional rulers, effectively banning protests on that day.

The Minister’s warning followed the FCT Security Council meeting in Abuja on Thursday, where he later briefed journalists on the outcome.

The planned nationwide protests, tagged #EndBadGovernance, are scheduled to take place from August 1 to 10, 2024. The organizers have expressed concerns over the prevailing hunger and rising inflation in the country.