Ahead of the 2026 Area Council elections in the Federal Capital Territory, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) on Sunday welcomed over 5,000 new members at a rally in Pyakasa.
The defection ceremony drew a large crowd of party loyalists and supporters from across the FCT, who gathered to receive the decampees into the APC fold.
Although the AMAC Chairman, Mr Christopher Zaka Maikalangu, was billed to receive the defectors in person, he was said to have been unavoidably absent due to a crucial meeting with the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike.
Speaking after the event, the Senior Special Assistant on Media to the AMAC Chairman, Mr Kingsley Madaki, described the defection as a “testament to the people’s happiness” with the leadership style of Maikalangu, whom he referred to as Mr Project.
“It is only enemies of progress that will not want to identify with what the chairman is doing. His programmes are people-oriented and development-driven,” Madaki said.
He added that the mass defection would not only strengthen the APC ahead of next year’s polls but also consolidate the chairman’s influence across the council.
Also speaking, the FCT APC Women Leader, Hajiya Salamatu Bello Jibrin, described the occasion as “a great day for the party,” noting that members were united behind Maikalangu’s administration.
“Our vote will count, and we stand with Maikalangu to ensure he completes his eight years in office,” she declared.
Those present at the event included the APC Chairman, AMAC, eight councillors elected on the APC platform, party executives, traditional leaders from Pyakasa, Aleyita and Ketti, as well as hundreds of party supporters.
