ABUJA – The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially closed the chapter on the February 21 Area Council elections, presenting Certificates of Return to the victors who will lead the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) for the next term.
In a ceremony held Wednesday at the commission’s FCT headquarters, Christopher Maikalangu was formally certified for his second term as Chairman of the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), alongside his deputy, Mohammed Nadabo.
The event saw a total of six area council chairmen, six deputies, and 62 councillors receive their official mandates, cementing the transition from candidates to elected public servants.
A Mandate for the People
The FCT Resident Electoral Commissioner, Aminu Idris, hailed the election as a triumph of transparency. He reminded the newly minted leaders that their victory is not a trophy, but a responsibility.
“Your election is a testament to the trust imposed on you by the people,” Idris told the gathering. “I urge you to see your mandates as a call to duty… working tirelessly to solve the situation of your constituents.”
Idris also extended credit to the Nigeria Police Force and various political parties for maintaining a peaceful atmosphere throughout the voting process.
Maikalangu’s ‘80% Rural’ Agenda
Fresh from receiving his certificate, Chairman Maikalangu described the day as the “final bus stop” of a rigorous journey. He wasted no time outlining his vision for AMAC, focusing heavily on the FCT’s underserved populations.
Key highlights of Maikalangu’s second-term plan:
-
Rural Focus: A pledge to direct 80% of development projects to rural communities.
-
Ward-Specific Needs: Tailoring infrastructure to the unique demands of areas like Kabusa and Garki.
-
Open Collaboration: An invitation to political opponents to join hands in developing the council.
“We were not enemies from the beginning. I don’t insult my rivals; we are all political friends,” Maikalangu stated, extending an olive branch to those he defeated at the polls.
Election Results Recap
The February 21 polls saw a dominant performance by the All Progressives Congress (APC), which swept five of the six chairmanship seats across the FCT.
| Area Council | Winning Party |
| AMAC | APC |
| Abaji | APC |
| Bwari | APC |
| Kwali | APC |
| Kuje | APC |
| Gwagwalada | PDP |
Closing the Infrastructure Gap
Vice Chairman-elect Mohammed Nadabo echoed the administration’s commitment to an open-door policy, promising that the government would not ignore the “peculiarities” of different wards. Whether it is water in one ward or education in another, Nadabo assured residents that the administration would work strictly “in tandem with what is available at our disposal.”
With the certificates now in hand, the newly elected officials are expected to be sworn in shortly to begin the task of governing Nigeria’s capital territory.
