In a statement issued in Abuja on Monday, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate for the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) chairmanship, Mr. Moses Paul, formally rejected the results of the February 21 election.
Paul accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of failing to properly manage the exercise, alleging that the process was marred by voter suppression, manipulated results, the intimidation of supporters, and widespread vote-buying.
This rejection follows the Sunday announcement by INEC declaring the incumbent, Christopher Maikalangu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the winner with 40,295 votes.
According to the AMAC Collation Officer, Andrew Abue, Paul finished in second place with 12,109 votes.
However, Paul maintains that he is the rightful winner of the people’s mandate. In his reaction, he stated:“I stand before you today not as a man diminished by the outcome of Saturday’s event, but as a man empowered by a political movement. This movement is not born of convenience but of conviction; it is carried not by power, but by people. It is written not in ink, but in sacrifice.”
Reflecting on his campaign efforts across the capital, he continued:“Over the past few months, from the streets of Karshi to the bustling markets of Wuse, from the crowded paths of Nyanya to the quiet resilience of Gwi, Abuja residents have risen, standing up and expressing their beliefs. For this, I bow my head in gratitude.”
Paul characterized the election as a significant moment for the electorate regardless of the official tally, noting:“Let it be known and recorded in history that what we witnessed in this election was not merely a contest for office; it was a declaration of dignity by a people who refuse to surrender their future.”
“I have reviewed the outcome as announced. While I firmly believe, based on our extensive engagement and the overwhelming spirit of our movement, that we earned the sacred mandate of the people, I strongly condemn the declared results, as they do not reflect the true will of the residents of Abuja.”
The ADC candidate further argued that the integrity of the democratic process was compromised by the actions of specific actors. He highlighted several irregularities, including a tragic fatality, stating:“Even among those who voted, many have expressed deep disagreement with the announced outcome due to widespread irregularities. These include restriction of movement through the imposition of a curfew; alteration and mutilation of polling unit results, which tragically contributed to the death of Musa Abubakar at the Gwagwa polling unit while he tried to resist; intimidation and attacks on ADC party members by security agencies; massive vote-buying across several wards; and voter suppression caused by the late arrival of election materials in key polling units, including Kabusa, among others.”
“These actions undermine the integrity of the electoral process and the confidence of the people in our democracy. Our movement was never built on the fragile foundation of titles; it was built on the enduring foundation of truth. And truth does not expire with an election.”
He concluded by praising the resilience of his base:“To the young men and women who stood in the sun for hours, who walked distances they had never known, and who gave their time, strength and voices: you are the authors of a new chapter.”
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