The Independent National Electoral Commission on Wednesday presented certificates of return to the re-elected Chairman of the Abuja Municipal Area Council, Christopher Maikalangu, and his deputy, Mohammed Nadabo, formally concluding the February 21 Area Council elections in the Federal Capital Territory.
The ceremony, held at the commission’s FCT office in Abuja, also included the six area council chairmen and their deputies, along with 62 councillors who emerged victorious in the polls, according to the News Agency of Nigeria.
Speaking at the event, the FCT Resident Electoral Commissioner, Aminu Idris, described the presentation as the final stage of a credible and transparent electoral process.
“I wish, on behalf of the commission, to congratulate all of you for your success at the polls. I urge you to see your mandates as a call to duty to the people.
“Your election is a testament to the trust imposed on you by the people. I encourage you to embrace your mandate with a sense of duty, working tirelessly to solve the situation of your constituents,” Idris said.
He also commended stakeholders, including the Nigeria Police Force and political parties, for ensuring a peaceful and credible exercise.
Speaking to journalists after receiving his certificate, Maikalangu expressed gratitude to God and the electorate, describing the occasion as the “final bus stop” in the electoral process.
The chairman pledged to continue his development agenda, focusing particularly on rural communities. He stated that the majority of his administration’s projects would target these areas.
“Anytime you talk about local government, you are talking about local people. As usual, I am going to give the rural areas 80 per cent because most of my activities dwell there.
“I want to thank them for giving me their votes, and I will give them back that dividend of democracy,” he said.
Maikalangu noted that development would be tailored to the specific needs of each ward, highlighting that areas such as Kabusa and Garki require special attention due to their size and unique needs.
He also called for collaboration with his political opponents, emphasising unity for the council’s progress.
“We were not enemies from the beginning. I don’t insult my rivals; we are all political friends. Let them come and join us so that whatever ideas they have, we can move AMAC forward together,” he added.
In his remarks, Vice Chairman-elect Mohammed Nadabo assured residents that the new administration would operate an open-door policy and remain responsive to the people’s needs.
“In some wards, they may need water; in others, it is education or infrastructure. We understand the peculiarities, and we will operate in tandem with what is available at our disposal so that we do not create a questionable impression in the minds of our citizens,” Nadabo said.
In the February 21 elections, the All Progressives Congress won five of the six chairmanship seats across the Area Councils of the Federal Capital Territory, securing victories in Abuja Municipal Area Council, Abaji, Bwari, Kwali, and Kuje. The Peoples Democratic Party won the remaining chairmanship seat.