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Abuja 2022: APC, PDP Split FCT Council Chairmanship Seats

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The governing All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday won three councils’ each after the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) poll which was held in Abuja on Saturday.

Both parties had keenly contested for the six area councils at the election.

PDP emerged victorious in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Bwari and Kuje area councils, while APC won in Gwagwalada, Kwali and Abaji area councils.

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In AMAC, PDP defeated APC which was the ruling party after the 2019 polls. PDP’s candidate, Christopher Zakka defeated his closest rival, Mr Murtala Karshi, of the APC.

READ: Yiaga Africa Identifies operational deficiencies in ongoing FCT Council Polls

The returning officer for the chairmanship election in AMAC, Professor Sani Saka, declared that Zakka polled 19,302 votes to defeat Karshi who scored 13,340 votes.

In Bwari area council, John Gabaya of the PDP won the council election in 2019, retained his seat after defeating his closest rival Mr. Haruna Shekwolo of the APC yesterday.

The returning officer for chairmanship election in Bwari, Professor Amuche Madu, declared Gabaya, who polled 13,045 votes winner. He said Shekwolo scored 7,697 votes.

Gabaya, was, therefore, returned elected having met the requirements of the Constitution and the electoral law.

In Kuje area council, PDP’s Abdullahi Sabo who won the 2019 contest, secured a second term in office yesterday after defeating his closest rival, Sarki Hamidu, of the APC.

Sabo polled 13,301 votes to Hamidu who got 7,694 votes.

The INEC returning officer for the election, Sule Magaji, announced the results in favour of the PDP chairmanship candidate.

The APC retained the chairmanship in Gwagwalada. Its candidate, Jibrin Abubakar, won the council election.

READ: LG Elections: FCT Voters Angry, Frustrated Over BVAS Malfunctioning

The returning officer in Gwagwalada, Prof. Iliyasu Umar, said Abubakar polled 11,125 votes to defeat his closest rival, Mohammed Kasim of the PDP, who polled 9,597 votes.

In Kwali, the APC candidate, Danladi Chiya, who won the poll in 2019, retained his position after yesterday’s election.

The returning officer for Kwali area council, Wesley Daniel, said Chiya defeated his closest rival, Haruna Pai, of the PDP to win the keenly contested election.

Chiya polled 7,646 votes while Pai, got 7,345 votes.

Meanwhile, in Abaji, INEC declared the APC candidate, Abdulrahman Ajiya as winner of the election. He also won the 2019 contest.

INEC’s returning officer for Abaji, Prof Gabriel Mordi, declared that APC scored 7, 289 votes to defeat PDP’s candidate, Alhaji Yahaya Garba Gawu, who got 4, 062 votes.

Mordi however said the winner will be announced after a Supreme Court judgement in Abuja.

An APC chairmanship aspirant in the area, Abubakar Umar Abdullahi, has gone to the apex court, after a FCT High Court and the Appeal Court nullified his candidature and declared Alhaji Mohammed Angulu Loko as the authentic chairmanship candidate of APC after the April 23, 2021 primary election.

It was gathered that both the FCT High Court and Appeal Court had ordered INEC to withdraw Abdullahi’s name and replace it with Loko as the APC chairmanship candidate for February, 12 2022 council election in Abaji.

Meanwhile, national chairman of PDP, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, has described the party’s rebound in the Abuja Municipal Council Polls as “a great omen under my watch as we lead PDP back to winning ways and rebuilding Nigeria.”

In a statement released by his media office yesterday, Dr. Ayu said the promise of a better Nigeria has just been flagged off by the victory at the FCT polls of Saturday.

Ayu said the party’s victory signposts the promise of a better Nigeria under his 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 PDP back to winning ways and rebuilding Nigeria.

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

The PDP chairman further dedicated the victory to all party leaders, 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 take over 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, FCT,” he said.

  • Additional Report from Leadership Newspapers

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Abuja

Mercedes G63 Kills Six Cows in Abuja Highway Crash

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A luxury Mercedes-Benz G-Class G63 AMG was involved in a late-night crash on a major highway in Abuja, killing six cows and sparking renewed concerns over road safety and enforcement of grazing laws in the Federal Capital Territory.
The incident occurred around 8 p.m. on Monday,

according to eyewitness accounts, when the high-speed SUV collided with a herd of cows that had reportedly strayed onto the roadway. A video circulating on social media shows the aftermath, with the white cows lying across the dark highway as traffic officials worked to manage the situation.


As of the time of filing this report, there were no confirmed injuries to the driver or any passengers in the vehicle. Unverified reports on social media suggested that the SUV sustained only minor damage despite the severity of the collision.


The accident has reignited debates over the continued presence of cattle on major roads in Abuja, despite the 2017 ban on open grazing introduced by the Federal Capital Territory Administration. The policy was designed to curb frequent clashes between herders and communities, as well as prevent traffic disruptions and accidents caused by roaming livestock.

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Residents and road users have repeatedly raised concerns about the enforcement of the grazing ban, noting that cows are still often seen along highways and within urban areas of the capital. Monday night’s crash is the latest in a series of such incidents, highlighting ongoing gaps in regulation and compliance.


Authorities are yet to release an official statement on the crash or confirm whether any action will be taken regarding the presence of the cattle on the highway.

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Abuja

YALI NETWORK ABUJA MARKS A DECADE OF IMPACT AT SPECIAL ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

ABENDE Sylvester

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The Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) Network Abuja gathered in the nation’s capital on Saturday 25th April, 2026 to celebrate ten years of youth leadership, civic engagement, and community transformation. The milestone anniversary was observed as a special edition of the hub’s monthly Face to Face meeting, held under the theme Celebrating a Decade of Impact.

Founded on April 2, 2016, the Abuja chapter began modestly — a group of roughly 20 young people with a shared conviction that leadership could be learned, practised, and scaled. Mrs. Chidinma Afocha served as the network’s first interim leader, steering the hub from April to August 2016 before a formal election produced Mr. Dozie Nwanfor as the first elected Coordinator for the 2016/2017 tenure.

What that pioneer team accomplished was foundational: they took a globally available virtual structure and gave it a physical heartbeat — real meetings, real events, and real relationships. Nine coordinators have since carried that baton forward, each tenure building on the last. Today, YALI Network has a presence in over 29 states across Nigeria, a testament to what disciplined, purpose-driven youth organising can achieve.

The anniversary event drew over 100 participants in person, with additional members joining online. Dignitaries in attendance included Dr. Mrs. Onyinye Onwuka, Head of Department for Early Warning and Early Response at the ECOWAS Commission, whose keynote address was delivered on her behalf by Ms. Onwuka. Also present were Dr. Sadiq Suleiman Abdullahi, CEO of the BILAD Group, and Ambassador Jamil Yusuf, National President of the International Visitors Leadership Program – US-Nigeria Education and Cultural Leadership Program Alumni Association (IVLP-ECULPAA) and many others.

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One of the evening’s most reflective moments came during a fireside chat with founding interim leader Mrs. Chidinma Afocha, moderated by Programs Officer Ms. Damilola Mercy Oluwasola. Afocha recounted the early days of the network — the uncertainty, the energy, and the sheer commitment that held the founding team together. “Commitment and dedication to social change were the driving forces,” she told the audience, urging current executives and members to carry those same values forward with love, tolerance, and unity.

There was also the panel session, centered on the theme “Sustaining the legacy; honouring the past, inspiring the future.” The panelists included past executives, like Dr. Obinna Ebirim, the Senior Technical Assistant Federal Ministry of Youth Development who was the first Content Developer. Also on the panel were Mr. Ovo Otarigho, Civic Leader and Youth Development Expert (former Coordinator) Engr. A. S. Yunusa, Managing Director MacDream Concept, (former Deputy Coordinator 2024), Uzochukwudinma Awele Otakpo, Social Adovacte, Auditor and Development Professional, (former Programs Officer) Amb. Gloria Tor, Public Health Strategic Communication (Former Communications Officer). The panel was moderated by Ms. Patience Ukange, (Team Lead, The Confident Woman 360). The conversation was candid and generational — a dialogue between those who built the foundation and those now responsible for the next chapter.

The event’s most anticipated moment was the official launch of the YALI 10 for 10 Legacy Mentorship and Internship Programme, flagged off by current Coordinator Mr. Utibe-Abasi Udotong. The programme will pair network members with ten seasoned mentors spanning five key sectors: Civic Engagement, Entrepreneurship, Public Management, Media, and Agriculture. Members will also have access to paid internship placements at partner companies and organisations — translating network membership into tangible career opportunity.

Beyond the celebration, the anniversary served several meaningful purposes for the network’s growth and continuity. It offered a structured opportunity to measure a decade of progress, reinforce organisational identity, and renew collective commitment to YALI’s vision. Equally important, it bridged generations — reconnecting founding members with current ones and creating the kind of institutional memory that keeps movements alive long after any single leader’s tenure ends.

As the cake was cut and glasses raised in a toast to greater years ahead, the mood in the room was less nostalgic than forward-looking. Ten years in, YALI Network Abuja appears to be just getting started.

YALI Network Abuja is a hub of the Young African Leaders Initiative Network, a platform established under the U.S. government’s effort to invest in the next generation of African leaders.

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Abuja

Heavy Rainstorm Damages Newly Built Kugbo Bus Terminal in Abuja

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A heavy rainstorm accompanied by strong winds on Tuesday afternoon has caused significant damage to the recently commissioned Kugbo Bus Terminal, raising fresh concerns about infrastructure quality in Nigeria’s capital.


The transport terminal, located along the busy Nyanya-Keffi corridor in Abuja, had only been operational for about nine months after its inauguration by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as part of efforts to modernise public transportation in the Federal Capital Territory.


Eyewitnesses said the storm tore off sections of the terminal’s roof, while also damaging a nearby pedestrian bridge and other surrounding structures.

Debris from the building spilled onto the Nyanya-Keffi Expressway, causing severe traffic congestion that lasted for hours, particularly around the vehicle inspection centre axis.
Despite the scale of the incident, no casualties were reported.

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Officials from the office of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, described the incident as “minor storm damage,” assuring the public that immediate steps were being taken to restore normalcy. The minister’s team said security personnel were deployed to manage traffic while repair work would commence without delay.


However, the incident has sparked widespread reactions online, with many Nigerians questioning the structural integrity and cost of the project, reportedly valued at over ₦51 billion.

Critics argue that a newly constructed facility should be able to withstand seasonal weather conditions, especially in a city like Abuja known for heavy rains.


The Kugbo Bus Terminal is one of several transport hubs developed under the current FCT administration to ease urban mobility and decongest major roads.

Tuesday’s damage has now put the spotlight on construction standards and project oversight in public infrastructure delivery.


As cleanup efforts continue, commuters and residents are calling for a thorough assessment of the damage and greater accountability to ensure long-term durability of critical transport facilities.

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Abuja

“Man Pulls Gun on VIO Officers in Abuja, Sparks Outrage

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A shocking incident occurred in Abuja where a man pulled out a gun during a confrontation with Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIO).

The viral video shows the man, visibly angry, brandishing the weapon, causing panic among bystanders. The cause of the altercation is unclear, but it’s believed to have started when the VIO tried to impound the man’s car.

The incident has sparked outrage and raised concerns about public safety and the increasing rate of violent encounters involving civilians and enforcement officials. Authorities are yet to release an official statement or confirm if any arrests have been made .

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Video: Fire guts section of federal secretariat in Abuja

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There was panic at the federal secretariat in Abuja on Monday morning after a section of the office of the head of service of the federation caught fire.

Eyewitnesses said the fire was first noticed at about 8:20am. Social media footage showed plumes of black smoke billowing from the affected section of the building.

The incident occurred at Section C of the building within the federal secretariat complex.

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Staff members were seen evacuating the area after emergency responders had been alerted.

The media department of the office of the head of service confirmed the incident.

The office said the outbreak was limited to Section C of the building.

Officials said emergency responders were already working to contain the fire.

“The fire outbreak is limited to Section C of the building and is currently being attended to by emergency officials,” the office said.

The cause of the fire had yet to be disclosed at the time of filing this report.


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