Chairman of the Abuja Municipal Area Council, AMAC in the Federal Capital Territory, Christopher Zakka Maikalanbu has called on the residents and his supporters to remain calm and continue to go about their normal business despite the judgment at the FCT Election Petitions Tribunal.
In a statement jointly signed by Senior Special Assistant to the Chairman on Media and Public Affairs, Kingsley Madaki and Chief Press Secretary to the Chairman, Ephraim Audu, the people have been told not to despair as the authority is already making plans to appeal the judgement that nullified the victory of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
The statement said the leadership of Abuja Municipal Area Council sees the judgement passed in favour of the All Progressives Congress, APC, alleging manipulation and manufacture of ghost votes against the ones that were legitimately announced after the February 12 elections as embarrassment to Nigeria’s judiciary.
Council Chairman, Christopher Zakka Maikalangu called on residents especially, PDP supporters to remain calm and not take laws into their hands following the judgement at the Election Petitions Tribunal as his legal team has already appealed the matter at a competent court.
The statement said the assurance became necessary following the violent celebrations by supporters of the APC who flooded some parts of the city centre and AMAC Secretariat defacing posters of the PDP and barricading entrances to the building chanting provocative songs and, brandishing dangerous weapons in the guise of their tribunal victory.
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC had declared Christopher Zakka Maikalangu of the PDP winner of the February 12 Area Council election having scored a total of 19,302 votes to defeat Usman Karshi of the APC who scored 13,249 votes.
But the FCT Area Council Election Petitions Tribunal led by Magistrate Folashade Oyekan upturned the election results and declared Usman Mukthar Karshi as dully elected Chairman of the Abuja Municipal Area Council.
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
