By Adesakin Adefemi
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has emerged victorious in five of the six chairmanship seats across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Councils, with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) securing only Gwagwalada.
The results, announced on Sunday, mark a clear shift in the political landscape of the nation’s capital, according to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.
Wike, in a special broadcast aired on national television and radio, praised President Bola Tinubu for creating an enabling environment for a peaceful and transparent election. He said the outcome “has clarified the country’s political landscape” and shown that “Nigerians now know the ruling party and the real opposition party.”
The APC’s wins came in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Abaji, Bwari, Kwali, and Kuje, while the PDP’s lone victory in Gwagwalada was described by analysts as a symbolic consolation for the opposition. Tinubu, in an earlier statement, specifically commended Wike for his “remarkable achievements in the territory, which have yielded political dividends to the governing APC.”
Wike, whose broadcast was contained in a statement signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, described the exercise as a reflection of residents’ commitment to democracy and good governance. “The peaceful conduct of the election is a testament to the commitment of the people of the FCT to democracy and good governance,” he said.
He thanked residents for believing in the “renewed and credible democratic process being championed by the government of President Bola Tinubu,” adding that the results demonstrated that citizens can no longer be swayed by “emergency democrats who have chosen not to see anything good in our country and its government.”
The minister took a swipe at critics, accusing them of hypocrisy and of attempting to deceive Nigerians through superficial gestures. “Yesterday, the residents of FCT demonstrated that they cannot be deceived by emergency democrats, who have chosen not to see anything good in our country and its government,” Wike stated.
He also commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for conducting a free, fair, and credible election, and praised security agencies for maintaining peace throughout the exercise. “This is a reflection of President Tinubu’s commitment to strengthening our democratic institutions and ensuring that our electoral processes are transparent and reliable,” he added.
Wike urged the winners to serve with humility and dedication, emphasizing that their mandate is to improve the lives of residents and bring development to communities. “You have been given a mandate to serve the people, and I urge you to do so with humility, dedication, and commitment to excellence,” he said.
The minister expressed gratitude to FCT residents, particularly those in satellite towns, for turning out in large numbers to vote. He pledged that his administration would continue to deliver the dividends of democracy in line with Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Political analysts say the APC’s dominance in the FCT council polls signals a consolidation of power by the ruling party in the capital, setting the tone for future elections and reinforcing Tinubu’s political influence ahead of 2027.
