The candidate of the African Democratic Congress in the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) chairmanship election, Dr. Moses Paul, on Monday rejected the outcome of the February 21 poll, alleging widespread irregularities.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Christopher Maikalangu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the election. According to the results announced by INEC, Maikalangu scored 40,295 votes out of a total of 62,861 valid votes cast.
Dr. Paul came second with 12,109 votes, while the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) secured 3,398 votes.
However, the ADC candidate said the declared results did not reflect the true will of the people of AMAC.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Monday, Paul accused INEC of mishandling the election. He alleged voter suppression, result manipulation, intimidation of party supporters and vote buying in several wards across the area council.
He said he had carefully reviewed the results and insisted that he won the mandate of the people.
“I stand before you today not as a man diminished by the outcome of Saturday’s event, but as a man empowered by a political movement,” Paul said.
According to him, his campaign was driven by ordinary residents who desired change at the grassroots level. He said his movement was built on conviction and sacrifice, not political convenience.
Paul mentioned communities such as Karshi, Wuse, Nyanya and Gui, where he said residents came out in large numbers to support his candidacy. He described the election as more than a contest for office, saying it was a struggle for dignity and a better future for AMAC residents.
“While I firmly believe that we earned the sacred mandate of the people, I strongly condemn the declared results, as they do not reflect the true will of the residents of Abuja,” he said.
He added that the conduct of some key players during the election undermined the integrity of the process and weakened public confidence in democracy.
Also on Monday, the Obidient Movement rejected the outcome of the election. The group described the process as a “brazen assault” on democracy.
Addressing journalists at the movement’s secretariat in Abuja, its National Coordinator, Yunusa Tanko, alleged widespread irregularities, voter suppression and violence during the poll.
Tanko said the Obidient Movement and its supporters had backed the ADC candidate, popularly known as Dr. Mo, as part of what he called a coalition for change.
“We address you today with a heavy heart, filled with both profound disappointment and righteous anger,” Tanko said.
According to him, the results of the AMAC chairmanship election were not just a political setback but an attack on democratic principles.
He alleged that many ADC party agents were harassed and intimidated at polling units. He also accused INEC of contributing to voter apathy by dividing polling units without adequate public notice.
Tanko said many voters were unable to locate their polling units and left in frustration without casting their votes. He claimed that voter turnout was about seven per cent.
“The Independent National Electoral Commission contributed to the voters’ apathy by dividing the polling units without informing the people, thus making it difficult for voters to locate their polling units,” he said.
He also claimed that the intervention of former presidential candidate Peter Obi encouraged more people to participate in the election.
“We were clearly ahead in the polls, and the will of the people was undeniable. Yet what we witnessed was a criminal subversion of that will,” Tanko stated.
He called on INEC to urgently address the allegations and restore public trust in the electoral process.
The Abuja Municipal Area Council is the largest and most populated area council in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). It covers key districts such as Wuse, Garki, Nyanya, Karshi and parts of the city centre.
Area council elections in the FCT are conducted by INEC, unlike local government elections in the states, which are conducted by state electoral commissions. The chairmanship position is important because it oversees local administration, primary healthcare, markets, sanitation and other grassroots services.
Christopher Maikalangu, who was declared winner, is the incumbent chairman of AMAC. His victory means the APC will continue to control the council.
In recent years, local government elections in Nigeria have often been surrounded by allegations of irregularities, low voter turnout and disputes over results. Political observers say voter apathy remains a major concern, especially in local elections where turnout is usually lower than in presidential or governorship polls.
The rejection of the AMAC election result by the ADC candidate and the Obidient Movement has again raised concerns about the credibility of local elections.
Civil society groups have repeatedly called for improved voter education, better communication from electoral authorities and stronger enforcement of electoral laws to prevent vote buying and intimidation.
INEC has not yet publicly responded to the specific allegations raised by Dr. Paul and the Obidient Movement as of the time of filing this report. The commission has, in the past, maintained that it follows laid-down procedures and works to ensure free and fair elections.
For now, tensions remain in parts of AMAC as supporters of different parties react to the outcome. While the APC celebrates its victory, the ADC and its supporters insist that the struggle for what they describe as electoral justice is not over.