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PDP’s Victories in FCT Area Council Election a Great Omen, Says Ayu

Published

4 years ago

February 14, 2022

Eric

The Peoples Democratic Party won three out of the six Federal Capital Territory’s area councils in the just-concluded election.

The three area councils won by the PDP are Kuje, Bwari and the Abuja Municipal Area Councils.

In Kuje, the PDP’s candidate and incumbent chairman, Suleman Sabo, polled 13,301 votes to defeat his closest rival, Sarki Hamidu of the APC, who secured 7,694 votes.

The PDP defeated the APC to win the election in AMAC, the council housing all the three arms of the Federal Government, including the Presidential Villa.

The PDP candidate, Christopher Zakka, polled 19,302 votes to defeat Murtala Karshi of the APC who scored 13,249 votes.

The PDP won in 10 wards while the APC won only two.

The incumbent chairman and PDP candidate in Bwari, John Gabaya, defeated Audi Shekwolo of the APC.

Gabaya scored 13,045 votes, while Shekwolo had 7,697 votes.

Meanwhile, the APC candidate, Jubrin Abubakar, won in Gwagwalada Area Council.

Abubakar garnered 11,125 votes to defeat his opponent, Mohammed Kassim of the PDP who polled 9,597 votes.

In Kwali Area Council, Danladi Chiya of the APC defeated his closest rival, Haruna Pai of the PDP to win the keenly-contested election.

The council’s incumbent chairman, Chiya, polled 7,646 votes while Pai garnered 7,345 votes, a difference of 301 votes.

In Abaji area council, the APC scored 7, 289 votes to defeat the candidate of the opposition PDP, Alhaji Yahaya Gawu, who got 4, 062 votes.

However, the returning officer, Prof Gabriel Mordi, did not announce the winner, stating that the winner would be announced after the determination of pending court case.

Two APC chieftains, Abubakar Abdullahi and Mohammed Loko, are laying claim to the party ticket in the council, but the case is still before the Supreme Court.

Meanwhile, the National Chairman of the PDP, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, has described the party’s rebound in the election “a great omen under my watch as we lead the PDP back to winning ways and rebuilding Nigeria.”

A statement released by his media office on Sunday, read, “The victory of our great party, the PDP, signposts the promise of a better Nigeria under my watch, leading this team of dedicated and committed party members.

“The victory at the FCT polls of Saturday, February 12, 2022, represents a great omen under my watch as we lead the PDP back to winning ways and rebuilding Nigeria.

“This victory, which gave us the important Abuja Municipal Area Council, is a signal that Nigerians are tired of the woes and hardship of the moment, occasioned by the worsening socio-economic realities of today.

“This victory is dedicated to all leaders of our party, particularly the state governors, NEC members, NWC members as well as the millions of party members across the nation.

“What we have just achieved in Abuja, the seat of power, will be replicated in Ekiti and Osun State later this year, culminating in our takeover of power at the centre next year, to usher in a better, more prosperous and secure Nigeria.

“PDP is back to rescue Nigeria and the rescue begins from the seat of power in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory.”

The Punch

Featured

Tinubu Nominates Oyedele As Minister of State for Finance, Moves Anite-Uzoka to Budget Ministry

Published

5 hours ago

March 3, 2026

Eric

A statement signed by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy Bayo Onanuga, has announced that “President Bola Tinubu has nominated Taiwo Oyedele as the minister of state for finance, replacing Doris Anite-Uzoka.

“Mrs Anite-Uzoka will now move to the Ministry of Budget and National Planning, as the Minister of State, her third portfolio in the administration.

“President Tinubu has today conveyed the nomination of Mr Oyedele to the Senate for confirmation in a letter to the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.

“Until President Tinubu nominated him as a minister, Mr Oyedele from Ikaram, Akoko, Ondo State, was the chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, which overhauled Nigeria’s tax system.

“Mr Oyedele, 50, is an economist, accountant and public policy expert.

“He attended Yaba College of Technology, where he obtained a Higher National Diploma (HND) in accountancy and finance. He attended Oxford Brookes University and earned a BSc in applied accounting.

“He also completed executive education programmes at the London School of Economics, Yale University, the Gordon Institute of Business Science, and the Harvard Kennedy School.

“Mr Oyedele spent 22 years of his working career at PwC, joining in 2001 and rising to become the Fiscal Policy Partner and Africa Tax Leader.

“Mr Oyedele is also a professor at Babcock University in Ogun State and a visiting scholar at the Lagos Business School.”

Featured

Defection: Atiku’s Son, Adamu, Resigns As Adamawa Commissioner

Published

10 hours ago

March 3, 2026

Eric

Adamu Abubakar, the first son of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, has resigned as Adamawa State’s commissioner for works and energy development, days after Governor Ahmadu Fintiri defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress.

Abubakar’s resignation letter, dated 2 March 2026, was addressed to the governor through the Secretary to the State Government. He gave no reason for his departure.

The timing is pointed. Fintiri announced his defection to the APC in a statewide broadcast last Friday, saying his cabinet and the PDP’s state structure had moved with him. Within 24 hours, 22 commissioners and special advisers publicly announced they were following suit. Abubakar, whose father remains one of the PDP’s most prominent national figures, was not among them.

In a statement issued Monday night, Abubakar’s media aide Abdulaziz Jauro said the former commissioner thanked the governor for the opportunity to serve and pledged continued loyalty to the administration’s developmental agenda. He also expressed gratitude to his father “for granting him the moral support and blessing to serve the people of Adamawa State” — a line that, read in context, suggests Atiku was consulted on the decision.

Abubakar said his resignation was not a withdrawal from public life. “This does not mark the end of his commitment to public service,” the statement read, “but rather the beginning of new avenues for developmental collaboration.”

The resignation leaves unresolved the question of whether it reflects a political break with the governor over his defection or a personal decision unconnected to the broader party realignment now reshaping Adamawa’s political landscape.

Featured

DSS Nabs Man over Assassination Attempt on Peter Obi

Published

12 hours ago

March 3, 2026

Eric

Nigeria’s Department of State Services (DSS) has detained a man in connection with the recent attack and alleged assassination threats targeting Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi.

According to AIT, the shooting incident took place on February 24, 2026, in Benin City, Edo State, during a political gathering attended by Obi and several figures from the African Democratic Congress (ADC). The meeting was hosted by former APC National Chairman, John Oyegun. Gunmen reportedly opened fire at the venue, causing panic and forcing attendees to disperse for safety.

According to security sources, shortly after the attack, an individual identified as Udeme Monday Stephen allegedly took to social media claiming responsibility and issuing additional threats against Obi, warning of further violence.

Intelligence officials reportedly initiated swift investigations, employing digital tracing and forensic tools that led to the arrest of the 26-year-old suspect in Rivers State. He is said to be a teacher at a private secondary school in the Eliozu area of Obio-Akpor Local Government Area.

The suspect remains in DSS custody and is expected to face prosecution. The agency reiterated its commitment to responding to credible threats and safeguarding lives and national interests without bias.