APC set to take over FCT, as Ganduje receives AMAC chair, 100 others
By Ndukaku Ihe
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has declared readiness to dominate and democratically take over the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Chairman of the party, Abdullahi Ganduje gave the indication on Thursday during an “Abuja Unity Rally” held at the Old Parade Ground, Abuja, to formally receive the Chairman of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Christopher Zakka Maikalangu, with his Councilors and thousands of supporters from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party (LP) across all six Area Councils.
The defectors were received by the Ganduje-led APC National Working Committee (NWC) as well as serving and former ministers, ex-Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello-led prominent party leaders from FCT and North Central region.
Speaking at the event, National Chairman of the party, Ganduje, declared that more than 60 per cent of residents in the FCT are now in the ruling party.
Ganduje, formally received the Chairman of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Maikalangu, his councilors and thousands of PDP supporters, LP members across the six Area Councils of the territory into the APC.
According to Ganduje, with the latest political development, the ruling party is set to produce the only Senator for the FCT, two member of the House of Representatives and all area councils chairmen in the territory.
“As part of that Renewed Hope Agenda, we have started seeing that FCT will be converted to APC. Today we have a great political giant, we have the chairman of AMAC which is the most popular local government in the FCT.
“The chairman with all his elected councilors, with all his appointed councilors, with all the politicians from PDP, they have decided to come to our great party, the APC. He has come with his thousands of supporters.
“Also, we have decampees from Bwari Area Council. We have decampees from Kuje Area Council, we have decampees from Abaji Area Council, we have decampees from Kwali Area Council, we have decampees from Gwagwala Area Councils. What remains now, almost all the politicians, all the people, more than 60 per cent of the FCT is now APC,” he said.
Former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, who spoke on behalf of the APC governors, declared no vacancy in the Aso Rock Villa in 2027, adding that: “President Bola Tinubu will, overwhelmingly, be re-elected to continue with the good work he is doing for the country.”
Bello called on all members of the party that have one issue or the other to come together and unite to make the broom platform virile for any electoral contest, stressing that APC will soon take over all the area councils in the FCT.
“All the Area Councils will be APC, it is just a little time that will take. Let me commend our national chairman, let me commend the state chairman of FCT, Alhaji Usman for all the wonderful job he’s being doing.
“When I came into this arena, I was shocked to see the mammoth crowd that turned out within this shortest possible time.
“Let me tell you that this mandate that Mr President is carrying, is the mandate of the people and the people of this country have spoken and I want to assure you that come 2027, there is no vacancy in Aso Rock. I will use this opportunity once again, to appreciate all founding fathers of our party, “Mr President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu played a significant and very pivotal role in ensuring that we have a party we are all tripping to join today.
“Our former president as the first president under the platform of the APC, former President Muhammadu Buhari. He has said it time without number that he remains a father in APC and he is a member of APC.
“Let nobody mistake it that Mr President and former President have any issue. In fact, they continue to confer in moving this country forward. So, we have APC intact, I call on all other members of the party who have one issue or the other, you can’t build a house and run away from it. I urge everybody, let’s come together and unite. Other political parties are just going to escort us to the villa come 2027.
“Come back, when you are inside APC, and you are making your demands you are talking but if you leave APC and you are outside APC and you are making demands, you are simply making noise and those of us that are inside APC, we will tell you to keep quiet. Therefore, APC is the owner of Nigeria today and tomorrow,” he said.
Presenting the defectors to the party’s national leadership, the APC State chairman for FCT, Abdulmalik Usman assured that the party under his leadership will redouble its efforts towards ensuring that the ruling party takes over the nation’s capital ahead of 2027 general election.
The Minister of Special Duties, Hon. Zaphania Jisalo, who addressed the mammoth crowd at the event tagged “Abuja Unity rally” heaped praises on President Tinubu for living up to his promises to carry along Abuja indigenes in his administration.
Jisalo said he is a living testimony of the President commitment towards the empowerment of Abuja indigene since he is an integral member of the federal executive council (FEC).
The Minister of State FCT, Hajia Mariya Mahmoud Bunkure urged the electorates to sustain their support for the APC-led administration which is living no stone unturned in uplifting their well being.
