A former aide to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, Bashir Ahmad, has emphasized the pivotal role of the Hausa voting community in shaping the outcome of the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) chairmanship election held on February 21, 2026.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Christopher Maikalangu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner and returned him for a second term as chairman. Maikalangu, the incumbent, polled 40,295 votes out of 62,861 valid votes cast, according to the collation officer, Prof. Andrew Abue. This represented a decisive margin over his closest rival, Paul Ogidi of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), who received 12,109 votes. Other notable results included Dantani Zanda of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with 3,398 votes, and smaller tallies from parties like the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
The election took place across numerous wards in AMAC, one of the six area councils in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), with a registered voter population of approximately 837,338. Accredited voters numbered around 65,676, reflecting challenges such as low turnout observed in parts of the FCT polls.
Shortly after the results were announced on February 22, 2026, Bashir Ahmad took to his verified X account (@BashirAhmaad) to share his analysis. In a post that garnered significant engagement, including over 240 likes and dozens of replies within hours, he wrote: “In Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), political reality is clear and no serious electoral calculation can ignore the Hausa voting community, one of the largest, most organized and politically conscious populations in the city. Attempting to contest an election without engaging, respecting and building trust within this community is just a strategic miscalculation, a political suicide and a subtle insult to a critical voting bloc whose influence continues to shape outcomes across wards and polling units in this city.”
Ahmad's comments underscore the enduring significance of ethnic and community-based voting patterns in FCT elections, particularly in urban centers like AMAC, where diverse populations—including substantial Hausa-speaking residents—play key roles in electoral dynamics. The Hausa community, often comprising settlers from northern Nigeria who have resided in Abuja for decades, is frequently described as cohesive and politically active, influencing results through organized mobilization.
Earlier that day, Ahmad had shared official AMAC results on X, congratulating the APC with emojis and highlighting the vote breakdown: APC 40,295, ADC 12,109, PDP 3,398. He also posted partial ward results, such as from Karishi Ward, where APC led with 2,309 votes ahead of NNPP (1,100) and others.
The APC's strong performance in AMAC aligns with broader trends in the FCT area council elections, where the party secured victories in at least five of the six councils, including Abaji, Bwari, Kwali, and Kuje, while the PDP won only in Gwagwalada. President Bola Tinubu later congratulated winners and commended FCT Minister Nyesom Wike for achievements that contributed to the APC's gains, as outlined in a Statehouse press release.
Maikalangu's re-election is widely viewed as bolstered by his alignment with Minister Wike, who has spearheaded extensive infrastructure projects in the FCT, enhancing the APC's appeal among residents. Observers note that Wike's influence, combined with strategic community engagements—including with groups like the Hausa community—likely factored into the decisive victory.
Bashir Ahmad, a journalist and digital communications strategist who served as a presidential aide under Buhari, has remained an active commentator on Nigerian politics since leaving office. His intervention in the AMAC discussion highlights ongoing debates about inclusivity, ethnic voting blocs, and the need for candidates to build broad coalitions in multicultural areas like Abuja.
The remarks have sparked mixed reactions online, with some users agreeing on the importance of community engagement, while others questioned the framing of specific ethnic groups as dominant voting forces in the cosmopolitan FCT. Nonetheless, Ahmad's post reinforces that demographic realities and trust-building remain essential elements in electoral strategy within Nigeria's capital city.
As the FCT polls conclude and results are fully collated, attention shifts to potential legal challenges—such as those announced by the PDP in other councils—and the implications for local governance in areas like primary healthcare, waste management, and infrastructure under the newly elected chairmen.
