The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) formally presented certificates of return to the newly elected leadership of the Federal Capital Territory's area councils on Wednesday. The ceremony saw the re-elected Chairman of the Abuja Municipal Area Council, Christopher Maikalangu, and his Vice, Mohammed Nadabo, receive their official documents. This presentation covered all winners from the Area Council elections held on February 21, marking a key step in the democratic process for Nigeria's capital.
According to an official identified as Idris, the presentation was comprehensive, covering the six area council chairmen and their deputies. Furthermore, certificates were also presented to the 62 councilors who emerged victorious across the various constituencies within the FCT. This formalizes the outcome of the recent polls and empowers the elected officials to begin their terms, addressing local governance needs in the nation's capital.
In a separate but concurrent political development, the All Progressives Congress (APC) held state congresses to elect new leadership. In Yobe State, Governor Mai Mala Buni made a significant declaration during a peaceful APC state congress held yesterday at the Government House in Damaturu. He vowed never to betray the trust placed in him by his predecessor, former Governor Ibrahim Gaidam, or the people of Yobe State in the course of executing his duties.
Meanwhile, in Oyo State, the APC also held its state congress yesterday at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium in Ibadan. At this gathering, Moses Alake Adeyemo, a former Deputy Governor of the state, was unanimously elected as the new Chairman of the All Progressives Congress in Oyo State. His emergence as a consensus chairman was formally ratified at the congress, signaling a unified front for the party in the southwestern state.
These internal party consolidations occur against the backdrop of a high-profile investigation involving a prominent APC figure. Former Kaduna State governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai has explained his refusal to answer questions from the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC). He stated his decision to remain silent was deliberate and based on his belief that the probe is politically motivated.
El-Rufai's position was contained in two handwritten statements he made under caution on the 19th and 20th of February, 2026, while in ICPC custody. He made these statements in the presence of his lawyer, Ubong E. Akpan. The anti-graft agency had previously obtained a 14-day detention warrant from a Chief Magistrate Court in Bwari to hold him.
This court-approved remand order is due to lapse on March 5, 2026, which is this Thursday. A prediction based on the situation suggests that El-Rufai may regain his freedom on Thursday if the ICPC fails to file formal charges against him before the expiration of that order. This sets a critical deadline for the commission's ongoing investigation.
The political landscape is thus marked by formal transitions of power at the local government level in the FCT, internal party leadership changes in key states, and a tense standoff between a former governor and a national anti-corruption body. These events collectively highlight the ongoing processes of democratic consolidation, party administration, and accountability within Nigeria's political sphere as of early March 2026.
