Bashir Ahmad, a former aide to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, has asserted that the Hausa community’s voting power in Abuja was a decisive factor in the recent Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) chairmanship election. His statement followed the official declaration of results by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
INEC announced Christopher Maikalangu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the AMAC chairmanship poll. Maikalangu received 40,295 votes, defeating his main challenger, Paul Ogidi of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), who secured 12,109 votes.
Reacting to the outcome, Ahmad stated on his verified social media platform that the political reality in AMAC makes the Hausa voting community indispensable to any serious electoral strategy. He described the community as one of the largest, most organized, and politically conscious populations in the Federal Capital Territory.
“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 said.
His comments highlight the enduring demographic and political influence of the Hausa population within Nigeria’s capital. As a historically significant group in Abuja, their consolidated voting patterns are frequently seen as pivotal in local government contests across the territory. Analysts note that Ahmad’s analysis underscores a broader national trend where candidates must secure endorsements from key ethnic and regional blocs to achieve electoral success.
The AMAC election result and the ensuing commentary reinforce the importance of community-specific outreach in Nigeria’s council polls. Observers will watch how other political actors in the Federal Capital Territory adjust their strategies ahead of future electoral cycles, factoring in the demonstrated power of coordinated voting blocs.
