The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially declared Christopher Maikalangu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the duly elected Chairman of the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC).
The announcement was made by the Collation Officer for AMAC, Professor Andrew Abue, following the conclusion of the electoral process. Mr Maikalangu, the incumbent chairman, secured a significant mandate to continue his leadership of the capital’s primary municipal council.
The Electoral Figures
According to the official returns released by Professor Abue, Mr Maikalangu polled 40,295 votes out of a total of 62,861 valid votes cast. His nearest rival, Paul Ogidi of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), secured 12,109 votes, while Dantani Zanda of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) trailed with 3,398 votes.
The Professor noted that the total number of votes cast stood at 65,197, which included 2,336 rejected ballots. Despite AMAC having a substantial register of 837,338 voters, only 65,676 individuals were accredited for the poll.
“That Maikalangu of the APC, having satisfied the requirements of the law, is hereby declared the winner and is returned elected,” Professor Abue stated during the declaration.
Performance of Contesting Parties
A total of 15 political parties contested the chairmanship, reflecting a diverse though ultimately lopsided political field. Notable results from the remaining field included:
- Social Democratic Party (SDP): 2,185 votes
- New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP): 1,694 votes
- All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA): 1,111 votes
- Action Democratic Party (ADP): 588 votes
- Young Progressives Party (YPP): 421 votes
The minor parties, including the Accord (A), Action Alliance (AA), and the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), collectively shared the remainder of the fractional vote.
Implications for the Capital
Mr Maikalangu’s victory solidifies the APC’s grip on the municipal administration of Abuja. As the incumbent, his re-election is seen by political analysts as an endorsement of his previous term’s policies, though the relatively low turnout in comparison to the total registered voting population remains a point of discussion for civil society observers.
The chairman-elect is expected to be sworn in shortly to commence his new term, tasked with addressing the urban infrastructure and administrative challenges of Nigeria’s seat of power.
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