APC wins FCT councils and leads in Kano Rivers by elections
By: Abudu Olalekan
The government’s main political group showed its power. In a major way.
A surprise unfolded when Saturday’s votes came in – five of six local councils in the capital now belong to the APC. Never before have they done so well in Abuja. Wins piled up elsewhere too, through special polls across Kano, Rivers, then Ogun. Rivals watched it happen, unsure what shifted under their feet.
Think back to 2019. Back then, APC took control of four councils. Now? They’ve got one more than before. As for PDP, only Gwagwalada stayed within their grasp. Nothing else came close.
This is how it went. INEC tallied every ballot, truth locked in the figures. While APC claimed AMAC, Bwari followed, then Abaji fell into their column, Kwali next, Kuje after that. Gwagwalada stood alone – PDP held it, though by then it seemed more gesture than gain.
The Numbers Show All
Out of nowhere, Christopher Maikalangu swept through AMAC. He held on tight as the current chairman, landing 40,295 votes. Behind him trailed a distant ADC challenger – only 12,109 names tallied. Nowhere near enough to matter.
Victory rolled Joshua Ishaku’s way in Bwari – APC on his ballot line, 18,466 names marked. Not far behind, but still distant, came the ADC man at 4,254. History repeats itself here: one strong wave, others left in quiet reach.
Odd how things turn out sometimes. In Gwagwalada, Mohammed Kasim from the PDP pulled ahead – 22,165 against the APC’s 17,788. One of the few times the opposition got it right. Crowds filled the streets there, shouting about what they called a win for fair choices. Tiny wins feel big when most places go the other way.
The ADC? Not a single council seat. In AMAC, their hopeful – Dr. Moses Paul – stepped aside without fuss. He spoke after the count: “Truth does not expire with an election.” A quiet strength in those words. What stood out was how he carried it.
Beyond FCT The Wider View
Not just in Abuja did the APC stay strong. In Kano State, two assembly spots fell into their hands – Ungogo, then Kano Municipal. Rivers State looked nearly identical. Ahoada East Constituency II came through, along with Khana State Constituency II.
A fresh win rolled in from Ogun State. Over in Ohunbe Ward 8 – part of Yewa North Local Government – Moses Opeisa, flying the APC flag, pulled in 2,255 votes from a total pool of 3,263. While eighteen rival groups stepped into the race, none made it past him.
Hold on a second. Across Abuja, then Kano, followed by Rivers, now Ogun – people picked the same team in charge. This isn’t luck. It’s movement building.
The Real Story Behind the Numbers
Fighting for just 68 spots in the FCT, 637 hopefuls stepped forward – members of 17 different parties. Chairmanship roles? Only six up for grabs. Councillor posts stood at sixty-two. Though packed with tension, the race ended with clear outcomes.
Just under a quarter of registered voters turned out in Gwagwalada – 46,294 from a list of 207,577. Though numbers were thin, the voices present carried weight. Some claimed threats at polling points; others whispered about cash for ballots. Still, Philip Akpen of INEC labeled the day calm, calling it orderly without hesitation
Sunday morning brought praise from President Bola Tinubu toward those who won. Signed by Bayo Onanuga, his message highlighted the work of INEC along with security teams. Not left out was FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, noted for accomplishments seen as gains for the APC.
Funny thing happened Sunday night – Wike showed up on TV nationwide. Gratitude first: he tipped his hat to Tinubu. Then came the jab, sharp and loud, aimed at rivals posing with street snacks like it means something real. Are we fooled? Hardly.
What Happens by 2027
A signal came through. From the APC. Impossible to ignore.
Each election since 2019 has seen them climb higher on FCT results. Victory now reaches places such as Rivers, once a hard nut to crack. While others stumble just behind.
A quiet strength marked Dr. Moses Paul’s remarks when he stepped back. Though the race ends here, his point lingers: lasting change grows from honesty, not rank. Power fades, but truth holds firm. Titles crack under pressure, yet integrity stands. What he said reaches past ballots into deeper ground. Not every leader sees that far ahead.
Truth is, it’s hard to ignore. How the ADC got wiped out of FCT councils where they used to have real presence – this shakes up what opposition really means now. Then there’s the PDP, clinging to a single council seat. Not better at all.
With 2027 drawing closer, Saturday’s outcome hints that the APC holds stronger now than before. Yet opposition groups are falling behind. If they fail to rethink quickly, today’s minor polls could quietly signal a larger shift ahead.
A voice rose from the crowd. Right now, victory sits with the APC.
