ABUJA COUNCIL ELECTION: Why Benue son, Dr Mo lost AMAC Chairmanship Poll

The 2026 council election in Nigeria’s capital ended with drama, emotion and sharply divided reactions, as supporters and critics offered contrasting interpretations of the outcome in the fiercely contested chairmanship race in the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC).

IDOMA VOICE reports that what many observers described as one of the most closely watched grassroots contests in recent years ultimately produced victory for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), with incumbent chairman Christopher Maikalangu defeating Dr. Moses Paul of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) by a wide margin.

The final result announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) showed Maikalangu polling 40,295 votes against Dr. Mo’s 12,109 votes.

For supporters of Dr. Mo, the outcome marked not defeat, but the closing chapter of a courageous political experiment.

Running on the platform of the ADC, he had built a campaign around grassroots mobilisation, youth participation and cross-community outreach, challenging long-established political structures within the council.

Across Karshi, Nyanya, Karu, Kabusa, Gwarinpa and other densely populated wards, his supporters insisted the campaign awakened a new level of civic engagement, particularly among first-time voters and young professionals who had previously stayed away from local government politics, IDOMA VOICE reports.

Many described his outing as “a gallant fight against the odds.”

One Olu Owode, said, “He showed that politics does not belong only to political structures. Even in defeat, a message has been sent.”

Despite the formal declaration of results, allegations of vote-buying and procedural irregularities quickly surfaced in several wards across the Federal Capital Territory.

Some observers and party agents claimed certain results were withheld, while electoral officials maintained that the exercise largely complied with established guidelines.

Among them is the National Coordinator, Obidient Movement Global, Dr Yunusa Tanko, who cried out, alleging manipulations in the Saturday’s exercise.

He said, “Dr. Mo actually won in many wards, but the results were not fully announced. There is clear evidence that the process was manipulated to favour the APC.”

At the moment, the ADC candidate has not commented on his next move, nor has he formally conceded defeat.

Maikalangu’s victory was bolstered by key support from the FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and by his local roots as a Gbagyi son of the soil.

Analysts also noted that some odds against Dr. Mo stemmed from his outsider status in certain wards, coupled with the strong institutional backing enjoyed by his opponent.

Beyond party lines, many Nigerians took to social media to commend the activist spirit displayed during the campaign.
Civil society voices praised the tone of engagement, noting that issue-based conversations around governance, transparency and community development dominated campaign discussions more than personality attacks.

Political analysts observed that the election demonstrated a growing appetite among urban voters for alternative leadership choices at the grassroots level.

“This election showed that citizens are paying attention again,” one analyst noted. “Local government politics is no longer taken for granted.”

With results declared and the winner poised to begin his tenure, the AMAC contest has officially concluded, but its echoes may linger.

For the APC, victory represents consolidation of influence within the capital’s largest council. For ADC supporters, it signals the birth of a movement they believe is only beginning.

And for many residents of Abuja, the election served as a reminder that democracy at the grassroots remains both fiercely contested and deeply personal.