The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has publicly declared his support for the All Progressives Congress candidate, Christopher Maikalangu, in the upcoming February 2026 Abuja Municipal Area Council chairmanship polls.
The endorsement, delivered during a community event in the Tunga Madaki settlement, seamlessly wove campaign politics with the promise of infrastructural development, signaling a strategic alignment aimed at consolidating support for the ruling party at the local government level.
The declaration comes just days after the Independent National Electoral Commission officially authorized the commencement of campaigns for the area council elections, setting the stage for a heated political contest.
Wike, addressing the community, left little to the imagination regarding his preferred candidate. “You all know where we’re heading to,” he stated, before directly handing over the incumbent chairman, Maikalangu, to the people of Tunga Madaki.
He painted a vivid picture of a post-election celebration, linking the candidate’s success directly to presidential patronage. “So that, when the election will be held in February, by June, Mr. President will be here to inaugurate this road, and then we will all dance… and then Mr. Maikalangu will come and do the needful after the election,” Wike proclaimed, explicitly connecting a vote for the APC to tangible governmental benefits.
The Minister used the occasion to highlight the fulfillment of a promise made by President Bola Tinubu to the communities affected by the airport’s second runway project. He recounted how the residents had long requested connecting roads, a plea he took to the President.
“Mr. President said, whatever the settlement ask for, give it to them,” Wike announced, positioning the Tinubu administration as a listening and caring government that fulfills its promises.
The event, held to flag off the construction of this vital road link for nine communities, was framed not just as a development milestone but as a testament to the efficacy of the current federal leadership.
This public endorsement by a high-profile minister for a local council candidate is a significant political development. It demonstrates a top-down approach to galvanizing support, using federal projects and presidential influence to sway local electorate sentiment.
By championing both the road project and Maikalangu’s candidacy in the same breath, Wike has effectively positioned the APC as the party of development and fulfilled promises, setting a clear narrative for the campaign season ahead.
The message to the voters is unequivocal: support the anointed candidate and reap the rewards of continued federal attention and infrastructural growth.
