By Vincent Egunyanga and Ben Adoga, Abuja
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has consolidated its political dominance in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), winning five of the six chairmanship seats in Saturday’s area council elections.
Results declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) showed that the APC clinched Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Abaji, Bwari, Kwali and Kuje, leaving the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with only Gwagwalada, while the African Democratic Congress (ADC) failed to win any chairmanship seat.
In AMAC, the APC candidate and incumbent Chairman, Christopher Maikalangu, secured 40,295 votes to defeat ADC’s Paul Ogidi, who polled 12,109 votes, and the PDP candidate, who garnered 3,398 votes.
Similarly, APC’s Danjuma Shekwolo won the Kuje chairmanship seat with 17,269 votes, defeating PDP’s Zakwoyi Danlami, who scored 15,824 votes, while in Kwali, APC’s Daniel Nuhu polled 17,032 votes to beat the PDP candidate, Haruna Pai, who secured 8,575 votes.
The ruling party also won in Abaji and Bwari area councils, further tightening its hold on grassroots governance in the nation’s capital.
However, the PDP secured its only victory in Gwagwalada, where its candidate, Mohammed Kasim, defeated the APC candidate, Yahaya Shehu, after polling 22,165 votes to 17,788.
INEC said the elections, conducted across the six area councils for chairmanship and councillorship positions, were largely peaceful and orderly, with only minor logistical delays reported in isolated areas.
The outcome is widely seen as a reflection of the expanding political influence of Nyesom Wike, a former PDP governor of Rivers State, whose appointment by President Bola Tinubu as FCT Minister has significantly altered the territory’s political dynamics in favour of the APC.
Wike, who monitored the elections in satellite communities including Karshi, Ketti and Karu, expressed satisfaction with the process.
He said, “First of all, we thank God that everywhere is peaceful. The only issue we observed is low voter turnout in the city centre, whereas in satellite towns it is quite impressive. What is important is that the election is peaceful — no violence, no destruction of ballot papers or ballot boxes.”
The minister’s political re-engineering of the FCT, backed by infrastructure renewal, administrative reforms and strengthened grassroots engagement, is believed to have contributed significantly to the APC’s strong showing.
*PDP wins one, ADC nothing
Despite the APC’s sweeping performance, the PDP managed to retain Gwagwalada Area Council, its only foothold in the FCT chairmanship contest, while the ADC and other opposition parties failed to secure any council.
The PDP congratulated its winning candidate but alleged intimidation and irregularities during the elections.
In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, the party said it had constituted a legal team to pursue election petitions where necessary.
The ADC, which finished second in AMAC, could not translate its votes into victory in any of the area councils.
*Tinubu hails Wike, says minister’s solid achievements responsible for feat
President Bola Tinubu congratulated the APC and its candidates on the electoral victories and reserved special commendation for Wike, attributing the party’s success in the FCT to his leadership and performance.
In a statement by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu said the minister’s achievements in the territory had translated into political gains for the ruling party.
He said, “President Tinubu specifically commends the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, for his remarkable achievements in the territory, which have yielded political dividends to the governing APC.”
The President also commended INEC, security agencies and voters for ensuring peaceful and credible polls and urged the winners to serve with humility and dedication, describing their mandate as a sacred trust.
*APC also records victories in Rivers, Kano by-elections
In Rivers State, the APC won both state constituency by-elections conducted by INEC.
The party’s candidate, Henrietta Loolo, won the Khana Constituency II seat in the Rivers State House of Assembly after polling 7,647 votes to defeat candidates of other parties. The seat became vacant following the death of the former lawmaker, Dinebari Loolo.
Similarly, APC’s Napoleon Ukalikpe emerged winner of the Ahoada East II Constituency by-election with 3,980 votes, filling the vacancy created by the resignation of Edison Ehie, who was appointed Chief of Staff to the Rivers State Governor.
In Kano State, the APC also secured victories in the Ungogo and Kano Municipal State Assembly by-elections.
The APC candidate, Aliyu Daneji, won the Kano Municipal Constituency seat with 7,484 votes, while Aminu Sa’ad clinched the Ungogo Constituency seat after polling 8,975 votes.
The victories in Rivers and Kano, coming alongside the party’s dominant performance in the FCT, further strengthened the APC’s political standing and extended its control in key legislative positions across the states.
*Low voter turnout shrinking democratic space, says opposition
Former Vice President and chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has expressed concern over the low voter turnout recorded in Saturday’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections, warning that the trend poses a threat to Nigeria’s democratic space.
In a reaction to the polls, Atiku said turnout figures, which averaged below 20 per cent, with the Abuja Municipal Area Council posting about 7.8 per cent, reflected declining public confidence in the democratic process.
He argued that weak civic participation, particularly in the nation’s capital, was a troubling signal about the state of democracy and political engagement in the country.
According to him, the development was the outcome of a political climate marked by intolerance, intimidation, and the weakening of opposition voices.
The Waziri Adamawa accused the administration of President Bola Tinubu of pursuing policies that, in his view, have narrowed the democratic space and discouraged political plurality.
“When citizens lose faith that their votes matter, democracy begins to die,” Atiku said. “What we are witnessing is not mere voter apathy. It is a direct consequence of an administration that governs with a chokehold on pluralism. Democracy in Nigeria is being suffocated slowly, steadily, and dangerously.”
He warned that a continued decline in citizens’ participation could undermine the country’s democratic foundations if not addressed.
“A democracy without vibrant opposition, without free political competition, and without public confidence is a democracy in name only. If this chokehold is not released, history will record this era as the period when our hard-won freedoms were traded for fear and conformity,” he added.
Atiku called on opposition parties and pro-democracy groups to unite in defence of democratic values and public participation.
“This is no longer about party lines; it is about preserving the Republic. The time to stand together to rescue and rebuild Nigeria is now,” he said.
