Hausa Are the Kingsmakers in Nigerian Elections – Bashir Ahmad on FCT Polls

A former presidential aide, Bashir Ahmad, has commented on the outcome of the Abuja Municipal Area Council election in the Federal Capital Territory.

His reaction followed the declaration of the chairmanship result for AMAC by Independent National Electoral Commission.

The election produced a clear winner after votes were counted across several wards in the council.

The candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Christopher Maikalangu, emerged victorious.
He secured 40,295 votes.
His closest challenger, Paul Ogidi of the African Democratic Congress, polled 12,109 votes.

Soon after the announcement, Ahmad shared his view on the political meaning of the result.

Writing on his verified X account, he argued that election outcomes in the FCT cannot be properly understood without considering the influence of the Hausa community.

He stated, “In AMAC, political reality is clear and no serious electoral calculation can ignore the Hausa voting community, one of the largest, most organized and politically conscious populations in the city.

“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’s remarks suggest that ethnic and community voting patterns remain a major factor in elections within the nation’s capital.

The former aide served under ex-President Muhammadu Buhari and has remained vocal on political developments since leaving office.