The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, on Wednesday presented certificates of return to the re-elected Chairman of the Abuja Municipal Area Council, AMAC, Christopher Maikalangu, and his Vice Chairman, Mohammed Nadabo, following their victory in the February 21 Area Council elections in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.
The presentation ceremony, held at INEC’s office in Abuja, marked the formal completion of the electoral process across the six area councils of the FCT.
In addition to the AMAC leadership, certificates were issued to five other area council chairmen and their deputies, as well as 62 councillors elected during the polls.
Speaking at the event, the FCT Resident Electoral Commissioner, Aminu Idris, described the elections as peaceful and transparent, noting that the issuance of certificates signified the official conclusion of the process.
“On behalf of the Commission, I congratulate all of you on your victory at the polls. I urge you to regard your mandates as a call to serve the people,” Idris said.
“Your election reflects the trust reposed in you by the electorate. I encourage you to discharge your duties with a strong sense of responsibility and work tirelessly to address the needs of your constituents.”
He also praised key stakeholders, including security agencies and political parties, for their roles in ensuring a credible exercise.
After receiving his certificate, Maikalangu thanked residents for renewing his mandate, describing the event as the “final bus stop” of the election journey.
He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to grassroots development, revealing that a significant portion of projects under his new tenure would target rural communities.
“When you talk about local government, you are talking about local people. As usual, I will prioritise rural areas because most of our activities are concentrated there,” he said.
“I thank the people for their votes, and I will repay them with the dividends of democracy.”
The AMAC chairman explained that development initiatives would be tailored to the needs of individual wards, identifying Kabusa and Garki as areas requiring focused attention due to their size and population.
Maikalangu also called for unity across political lines, urging his opponents to collaborate with his administration.
“We were never enemies. I do not insult my rivals; we are political associates. Let them join us so that together we can move AMAC forward,” he said.
Vice Chairman-elect Mohammed Nadabo, in his remarks, assured residents that the council would operate an open-door policy and respond to the distinct needs of different communities.
“In some wards, the priority may be water; in others, it could be education or infrastructure. We understand these differences and will act based on available resources to avoid creating unrealistic expectations,” Nadabo said.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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