APC Candidate Christopher Maikalangu Dominates His Polling Unit in FCT Council Election
In a decisive victory, Christopher Maikalangu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) chairmanship, has won his polling unit in Saturday's council elections in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The results, declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), show Maikalangu securing a significant margin over his opponents.
Voting Results at Polling Unit 004
At Polling Unit 004 in Garki Village 2, Maikalangu garnered 229 votes, demonstrating strong local support. His closest competitor, Paul Ogidi of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), received only 15 votes, while Onyebuchi Chukwu of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) polled a single vote. This outcome highlights Maikalangu's popularity in his immediate community as the broader council-wide vote counting continues.
Incumbent Chairmen Seek Re-election
Maikalangu is one of two incumbent area council chairmen aiming for a second term under the APC platform, alongside Abubakar Abdullahi of Abaji Area Council. Both are completing their initial terms, with the FCT comprising six area councils in total. Before voting commenced, notable figures including Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, and the Minister of State for the FCT, Mariya Bunkure, visited the polling unit, which is situated within Maikalangu's family compound.
Candidate's Satisfaction with Electoral Process
After casting his vote, Maikalangu expressed satisfaction with the electoral process, describing it as seamless. He stated, "I am impressed with the turnout today; you can see that my people are out here to vote. I am satisfied with the process. In less than three minutes, I cast my vote. I think everything is okay." His comments reflect a positive assessment of the voting procedures at his unit.
Voter Accreditation and Turnout Challenges
At Maikalangu's polling unit, 252 voters were accredited and cast ballots out of 2,287 registered voters, indicating a turnout of approximately 11%. Across AMAC, some polling units experienced low voter participation and logistical issues. Intermittent malfunctions of the fingerprint component of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) forced officials to rely on facial recognition for voter verification, posing challenges to the accreditation process.
The election results underscore Maikalangu's robust support base within his polling unit, setting a positive tone for his re-election bid as the APC seeks to maintain control in the FCT council elections.
