The candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Christopher Maikalangu, has been declared winner of the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) chairmanship election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The results were announced at the INEC area office in Karu at approximately 4:30 a.m. on Sunday following the conclusion of collation.
The Collation Officer for AMAC, Andrew Abue, confirmed that Maikalangu, who is the incumbent chairman of the council, secured the highest number of votes cast in the election and was therefore returned elected in accordance with the law.
According to Abue, Maikalangu polled 40,295 votes out of a total of 62,861 valid votes cast in the election.
“That Maikalangu of the APC, having satisfied the requirements of the law and scored the highest number of votes, is hereby declared the winner and is returned elected,” Abue announced.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) emerged as runner-up in the contest, securing 12,109 votes, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) placed third with 3,398 votes.
INEC disclosed that a total of 65,197 votes were cast in the election, of which 62,861 were declared valid, while 2,336 votes were rejected. The total number of accredited voters stood at 65,676, out of 837,338 registered voters in the Abuja Municipal Area Council.
The breakdown of results for the chairmanship election showed participation from multiple political parties and candidates.
Agbon Vaniah of the Accord Party (A) scored 403 votes, while Nemiebika Tamunomiesam of the Action Alliance (AA) polled 108 votes. Moses Paul of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) secured 12,109 votes to place second overall.
Richard Elizabeth of the Action Democratic Party (ADP) garnered 588 votes.
Christopher Maikalangu of the APC led the field with 40,295 votes, reaffirming his political dominance in the council area.
Eze Chukwu of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) recorded 1,111 votes, while Chukwu Promise of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) received 122 votes.
Ugoh Michael of the Action Peoples Party (APP) polled 32 votes, and Thomas Happiness of the Boot Party (BP) secured 43 votes.
Jibrin Alhassan of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) obtained 1,694 votes. Samson Usani of the National Rescue Movement (NRM) scored 73 votes.
Dantani Zanda of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) received 3,398 votes, placing third in the overall standings.
Iber Shimakaha of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) polled 90 votes, while Simon Obinna of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) secured 2,185 votes.
Madaki Robert of the Young Progressives Party (YPP) recorded 421 votes, and Swani Buba of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) received 189 votes.
Maikalangu’s victory consolidates his leadership in AMAC, one of the most politically significant area councils in the Federal Capital Territory. His margin of victory over his closest rival was substantial, with a lead of more than 28,000 votes over the ADC candidate.
The voter turnout, however, reflected a relatively low level of participation when compared to the total number of registered voters in the council. With 65,676 accredited voters out of over 837,000 registered voters, turnout hovered at under 10 percent, a figure that may prompt further analysis by political observers.
INEC officials maintained that the election was conducted in compliance with electoral guidelines and procedures. The early morning announcement marked the conclusion of the collation process for the council’s chairmanship race.
With his re-election secured, Maikalangu is expected to continue in office for another term, as attention shifts to governance priorities and political alignments within the Federal Capital Territory.
