Prominent leaders of the Igbo community in the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) have formally distanced themselves from an alleged endorsement of a Social Democratic Party (SDP) chairmanship candidate, describing it as misleading, unauthorized, and unrepresentative of the will of Ndigbo in the council.
The clarification was made on Wednesday during a well-attended press conference in Abuja, where Igbo royal fathers, captains of industry, market leaders, and members of the Igbo Community Assembly (ICA) in AMAC gathered to set the record straight ahead of the 2026 FCT Area Council elections.
Reading from a jointly endorsed communiqué, Hon. Benson Ovoh and Comrade Ike Duru, who spoke on behalf of the leadership of the AMAC Igbo Community, stated that the purported endorsement of one Obinna Simon of the Social Democratic Party was carried out in error and without the consent of the Igbo grassroots.
They emphasized that the Igbo population in the Abuja Municipal Area Council has, since the creation of the Federal Capital Territory, aligned with progressive governance, contributing significantly to commerce, market development, and peaceful coexistence with indigenous communities.
The leaders praised the administration of the incumbent AMAC Chairman, Christopher Zaaka Maikalangu, describing his tenure as inclusive and business-friendly. They cited improved political participation, enhanced market allocations, and the resettlement of traders who had suffered nearly three decades of displacement due to repeated market demolitions.
“This singular intervention restored hope and stability to our trading communities and must be reciprocated with support,” the leaders said, adding that Maikalangu’s leadership had deepened trust between Ndigbo and host communities in AMAC.
Speaking further at the briefing, Mr. Odozi Nwaodozi explained that the essence of the press conference was to counter what he described as “blind and ethnically driven endorsements” that do not reflect the true interests of the community.
According to him, supporting candidates solely on ethnic sentiment, without proven commitment or performance, poses long-term risks to political inclusion and economic stability. He urged the Igbo community to make informed decisions, stressing that loyalty should be earned through service, not demanded by identity.
“We must support those who have stood by us, not individuals who appear only during election seasons,” Nwaodozi said, while calling on residents to reject personal ambition disguised as community representation.
The leaders unanimously declared their endorsement of Christopher Zaaka Maikalangu as the Igbo consensus candidate for the AMAC chairmanship election scheduled for Saturday, February 21, 2026. They also announced plans to mobilize voters across wards to ensure coordinated support for the incumbent on election day.
The briefing ended with calls for unity, peaceful participation in the electoral process, and continued cooperation with indigenous communities to sustain the gains recorded under the current administration.
The communiqué was jointly signed by Hon. Benson Ovoh and Comrade Ike Duru on behalf of the leadership of the AMAC Igbo Community.
