A former presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party, Adewole Adebayo, on Tuesday declared that the Federal Capital Territory was never conceived as an exclusive preserve for the wealthy, urging residents of Gwagwalada to use Saturday’s Area Council election to demand accountable and inclusive governance.
Adebayo, who addressed supporters at a campaign rally in Gwagwalada, said the forthcoming poll offers residents an opportunity to redefine leadership at the grassroots and insist on equitable development across communities in the FCT.
The FCT, created in 1976 under the military administration of Murtala Muhammed, was designed as a neutral capital territory meant to symbolise national unity and provide equal access to infrastructure and opportunity for all Nigerians.
However, five decades after its establishment, stark contrasts remain between highbrow districts such as Asokoro and Maitama and satellite towns like Gwagwalada, Kuje and Bwari, where residents grapple with inadequate public services.
Adebayo said the disparity runs contrary to the original vision of the capital city.
He said, “When the administration of Murtala Muhammed created the Federal Capital Territory in 1976, it was not designed for the rich alone or the poor alone. It was meant to be a modern city for everyone to enjoy the benefits of this country.
“But today, what do we see? No steady electricity, clean water, good schools and roads. If we must repair Nigeria, we cannot repair it from the Villa. We must repair it from the grassroots — and there is no grassroots more real than Gwagwalada.
Many of the people who cook for senators, clean for ministers, and serve powerful officials live here. Every day they struggle into the city, and when they return home, they face darkness, poor roads, and hardship. This is not how it should be.”
The former presidential candidate urged voters to prioritise competence, integrity and proven service in choosing their leaders, rather than ethnicity, religion or financial inducement.
He described the party’s chairmanship candidate as a community-oriented legal practitioner committed to expanding access to education and social justice, particularly for vulnerable groups.
“Political parties exist to provide solutions. In the end, we choose candidates based on their character and their life’s work — not their religion, ethnicity, or how much money they distribute.
“Our candidate is a lawyer for the people. Much of his legal work has been done free of charge for the poor. Instead of using his earnings to build luxury properties, he built a school — a school where children of ordinary families study without being bankrupted, and in many cases, without paying fees.
“So we are not gathered here merely to make someone chairman. We are gathered to repair our community. Let us take this election seriously. Do not wait for presidential elections. The change begins here — at the grassroots,” he stated.
Saturday’s poll will determine leadership across the six Area Councils of the FCT — Abaji, Abuja Municipal, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje and Kwali — with chairmanship and councillorship seats at stake.
On his part, the SDP chairmanship candidate in Gwagwalada Area Council, Khalid Bala-Gano, expressed confidence in the party’s chances, describing the rally as the climax of weeks of grassroots mobilisation and issue-based engagement.
Bala-Gano said the campaign focused on practical policy proposals to address infrastructure deficits, improve primary healthcare delivery, strengthen basic education and enhance security within the council.
According to him, the election presents residents with a clear choice between continuity and people-oriented governance rooted in transparency and accountability.
He said, “This is our final rally. We have endured the pressure, we have faced the challenges, and we have stood firm. We have made it clear that in this election, by the grace of God — Insha Allah — we shall win.
“This is our final rally, and we stand here stronger than ever. Despite every obstacle, we are united and determined. By the grace of God, Insha Allah, victory is ours in this election!”
He reaffirmed his commitment to inclusive development across wards in the council and urged eligible voters to participate peacefully in the democratic process.
Area Council elections, though often attracting less national attention than presidential or governorship contests, remain critical to grassroots administration in the FCT, where councils are responsible for primary education, basic healthcare, rural roads, markets and community sanitation.
For residents of satellite towns like Gwagwalada, the outcome of Saturday’s poll could determine whether long-standing complaints over electricity, potable water, security and infrastructure receive renewed attention or remain campaign talking points until the next election cycle.
PUNCH.
