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.
The certificates were also presented to other winners of the polls held across the six area councils of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Presenting the certificates at the commission’s office in Abuja, the FCT Resident Electoral Commissioner, Aminu Idris, described the exercise as the formal conclusion of what he termed a successful and transparent electoral process.
He stated that the presentation covered six area council chairmen and their deputies, as well as 62 councillors elected across the FCT.
“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.”
The REC also commended key stakeholders, including the Nigeria Police Force and political parties, for their roles in ensuring a peaceful and credible election.
Speaking with journalists after receiving his certificate, Maikalangu expressed gratitude to God and the electorate, describing the presentation as the “final bus stop” in the election process.
The AMAC chairman pledged to consolidate on his administration’s achievements, announcing that 80 per cent of projects and programmes under his new tenure would be directed towards 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.”
Maikalangu added that infrastructure development would be tailored to the specific needs of each ward, citing Kabusa and Garki as areas requiring particular government attention due to their size and population.
He also extended an olive branch to his political opponents, urging them to collaborate with his administration for the progress of AMAC.
“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.
In his remarks, Vice Chairman-elect Mohammed Nadabo assured residents that the council would operate an open-door policy and remain people-focused.
“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.