Independent National Electoral Commission Presents Certificates to FCT Council Winners
by Momodu Favour
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 deputy, Mohammed Nadabo, formally concluding the February 21 Area Council elections in the Federal Capital Territory.
The presentation ceremony, held at INEC’s FCT office in Abuja, also saw the issuance of certificates to the six area council chairmen and their deputies, as well as 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 what he termed 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,” Idris said.
“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.”
He commended stakeholders, including the Nigeria Police Force and political parties, for their roles in ensuring a peaceful and credible exercise across the councils.
Addressing 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. He pledged to sustain his administration’s development drive, with a strong emphasis on rural communities within AMAC.
According to him, the bulk of his administration’s projects would be directed toward rural areas to bridge infrastructure gaps and improve living standards.
“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,” he said.
The February 21 polls were conducted across the six area councils of the FCT, with INEC maintaining that the process was peaceful and met acceptable standards. The newly elected officials are expected to assume office in line with the council transition timetable.
