It is election time in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the nation's seat of power and center of unity. And after the attention and interest generated by the February 6 governorship election in Anambra state, all eyes now shift to the FCT where the Independent National electoral Commission (INEC) is expected to surpass the high marks it achieved with the Anambra election.

With Anambra election, INEC changed perceptions. With the FCT council elections, it is expected to make free and fair elections a new habit. And that is why all eyes will now focus on it to show that achievements in Anambra state were no fluke.

The FCT council elections attract attention and interest mainly because it is the seat of government and anyone who occupies the seat at the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), for instance, would be occupying an office almost equal in stature and importance to that of the Mayor of New York or Mayor of Moscow. Abuja municipality, is thus a big city which election, in terms of rivalry and brinkmanship, could equal that of state governorship.

AMAC, being one of the six area councils in FCT where the scheduled election would take place is greeted with a lot of anxiety as candidates busy themselves plotting others.

The council was created by the former Head of State, General Mohammadu Buhari, as a development area in 1984. Upon creation, it was principally meant to administer the affairs of the then new city and to also facilitate environmental decency of the Federal Capital City in line with the administration's policy of War Against Indiscipline (WAI) campaign.

Almost 26 years after, the council has become one of the most important local government councils in the country due, of course, to its location and centrality. Apart from being a local government area that is situated exactly at the center of Nigeria, AMAC is also home to top political elite of the country including the President ,Vice president , Senate President, Speaker House of representatives, Ministers as well as business tycoons and other prominent citizens.

For instance, Aso Rock, which is the nation's seat of power, is situated on the north eastern part of Abuja city. Similarly, the National Assembly complex, Supreme Court, as well as the head quarters of civil service and the Federal Secretariat are all located within the same axis.

There are 12 council wards in AMAC; each of which is politically represented by a councilor, also elected to serve same tenure with the chairman. And for its strategic location and importance to the country, as Nigeria's host council area, elections into the council seat and councillorship, comes with much interest even though the caliber of people who seek to be elected as councilors leave much to be desired.

THE ELECTION:

Expectedly, elections into the six area council of FCT have been fixed by the FCT INEC to hold on April 10, 2010. This year's election is certainly going to be interesting, tough, and competitive, as four out of the present six chairmen are seeking re-election into the exhorted seats. Those who are seeking re-election include Hon. Danladi Etsu Zhin (PDP, Kuje Area Council), Hon. Saleh Yebu (Kwali, PDP), Hon. Zakari Angulu Dobi (ANPP, Gwagwalada) and Alhaji Mohammed Yunusa (PDP, Abaji area council) respectively. They will however, face stiff opposition from candidates of opposition parties, who also believe that change is imminent.

KUJE

Danladi Zhin, was elected chairman of Kuje area council about four years ago on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party. Before he assumed the position, he had worked as PDP Secretary in the FCT. In that capacity, he worked closely with Alhaji Alhassan Gwagwa said to be the strong man of FCT politics. He was at the time, PDP chairman in the territory. Danladi is believed to have performed well during his first term in office. In fact, a committee set-up by the former FCT minister of state, Senator John James Akpanudoedehe to evaluate the performance of council chairmen scored Zhin high. It was believed that the high rate of defections from the opposition parties to the PDP in Kuje, are a direct consequence of his performance rate which is rated high.

Recently, a group which operates under the aegis of Integrated Support for Democracy adopted him for the chairmanship election giving him an added advantage ahead of other candidates in the other parties.

Speaking with Daily Champion, leader of the group, Usman Sunday Okpe, said Zhin has been able to reposition Kuje council trickling democratic dividends to the rural populace as well as laying a strong foundation for the development and transformation of the council.

According to him, some of the achievements recorded by Zhin include construction of classrooms in Sundaba, Kuchiyako, Gbamfa, Tukpechi etc; distribution of instructional material to schools for conducive learning condition; construction of Kuje ultra modern town hall, town library, store and renovation of the fence of the Women Development Centre.

Others projects executed by the chairman he said are connection of Kuje town with 33KVA line from the Airport power line; purchase and installation of transformers for various villages including Gudun-Karya, Yenche, Rubochi, Shetuko, Tukpeki.

Kuje and Gwagwalada used to be strongholds of the ANPP in the FCT especially, during the reign of Jibrin Wowo who served as the chairman of Kuje council for over ten years under the platform of the party. But it appears that in just three years of. Zhin's leadership, the PDP leadership has been able to rubbish Wowo's ten years and voters in the area seem ready to allow him take another shot at the council's seat.

Another factor that may work in favour of the PDP candidate is his ability to close rank with ethnic groups in Kuje. For instance, he's appointment of non indigenes into his cabinet is a high mark that has endeared the electorate to him.

So, if performance is a critical factor in this election, Danladi Zhin might as well occupy the Kuje seat for another term.

KWALIHon. Danlami Saleh Yebu. He is the acting Chairman of Kwali area council. He retired from Nigerian Prison Service to contest election for counsellorship of Yebu ward, which he won and was elected council three years ago.

Hon. Yebu's story is similar to that of Goodluck Jonathan, Nigeria's Acting president. Soon after he was elected counselor under the platform of the PDP, Yebu was voted into office as the speaker of Kwali legislative council. From that position he was again chosen as chairman of the council following the gruesome murder of Hon. Samuel Mari Gwanma who was Kwali council chairman and the suspension of Alhaji Saidu Ashara the then Vice Chairman.

Yebu is currently seeking to be elected chairman of Kwali area council after functioning in acting capacity for almost two years. But he is expected to have a strong challenge from ANPP's candidate. Yebu's chance of clinching the position is however slim with a possibility of a run-off as he is see as standing at a 50-50 rating with his challengers. This is so, because residents of Kwali think him unable to step into the shoes created by his predecessor. Also, there is a growing contemplation that Yebu is not popular and not good as a politician.

Above all, the strongest point against him is his inability to move the council at the pace which the slain chairman left it.

Before his death, for instance, Gwanma executed over 15 viable projects within six months in office. By the time he fall to the assassin's bullet, he had started over 8o projects and completed 22 including a 40 kilometer road. So, residents of the area who witnesses the rapid transformation under the late Gwanma are disenchanted with Yebun and are of the view that PDP, under the present leadership, has not done well to uplift their fortunes and may therefore, decide to cast their votes for other candidates in the other direction in protest.

Daily Champion gathered from a reliable source, who is also an aide of the acting chairman, that key political actors in Kwali council are unhappy with Yebu's behavior and has vowed to teach him a good political lesson during the election. According to the source, the politicians accused Yebu of neglecting founding members of the party in the area; this factor might as well count against the chairman's ambition of retuning to power.

GWAGWALADA

Gwagwalada Council. In G-town, as the city is fondly called, Hon. Zakari Angulu Dobi is in charge, detecting political tone in the area. He holds the ace.

Dobi is an astute politician, he was first elected on in 2003 on the platform of ANPP, but his election was voided by the courts on the ground that he misappropriated some N200,000 belonging to a particular office where he was an employee. He was later cleared and he contested the election in 2007 on the same ANPP ticket and won. Dobi is very popular and a house hold name in Gwagwalada politics. One striking point about Dobi which has endeared him to voters is his firm believe and principled disposition. He is said to be a leader who brooks no nonsense. As it is now, his council is the only area in the FCT being controlled by the opposition ANPP. He has severally rebuffed pressure from PDP to dump his party. He is expected to have an easy victory on April 10 as his toughest challenger, Alhajo Saidu Zuba, of the PDP is not seen as commanding much respect and leadership among the electorate.

ABAJI

In Abaji the present chairman Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar Yunusa of the PDP is expected to have an overwhelming victory against his closest rival, Abubakar Dantsfo of the ANPP at the April poll. Yunasa as the chairman of the council is generally agreed to have fulfilled a least 75 percent of his campaign promises and the peoples expectation in terms of provision of democratic dividends. He is also known to be one of the best performing council chairmen in FCT.

Daily Champion observes that Yunusa was able to construct a 45 kilometer road with asphalt, installed solar energy street lights on major roads in Abaji, as well as created a computer centre fully equipped with internet facilities among other projects.

A former FCT minister of state had said of him: "Chairman I'm very proud of you. I like the quality of your work. I urge the people here to give you another chance so that you will bring development more and more to these communities. This is evidence that the 7 point agenda of President Umaru Yar'Adua is being met in Abaji. This is also a sign that the PDP is a working government; I want all chairmen in FCT to emulate this achievement."

Though he has a strong challenger in Suliman Abdul of the Action Congress, he is expected to come up top going by the feeling of voters here in Abaji, Abuja's gateway to the southern part of the country.

BWARI

The battle for the Bwari Area Council Chairmanship Election might probably be between Yohana Peter of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) candidate Hon. Isah Yayaha as other candidates in the forthcoming election are invisible.

But the candidate of PDP may gain the upper hand over his ANPP counterpart as indications have emerged that he has enough resource at his disposal. He also is said to be the anointed candidate of the out-going Chairman of the council, Hon. Isah Dara Bwari who have served out his as two terms.

Investigations have shown that for the PDP candidate to succeed, some intra-party issues which might affect his chances to clinch the plum position must be resolved. Feelers say this has to do with the strained relationship between him and his closest opponent during the last party primaries to select a chairmanship candidate for the party, Hon. Musa Dikko, who is said to be spoiling to rock the boat during the main elections.

Another huddle for Yohana according to findings is various offences he is alleged to have committed while working in the National Assembly under Finance and Supply Unit. Part of the allegation was that he was promoted to GL 08 in the service of the National Assembly in 2007 while he was holding appointment as supervisory councilor in Bwari Area council. He is also being accused of financial misappropriation in the year 2000 in his department.

The PDP chairmanship candidate is however fighting back, saying that those allegations are baseless and only targeted against him, in order to be dumped by the party. He told Daily Champion that, he tendered his resignation letter in December 2006 and it was approved by the National Assembly before he took appointment in the Bwari Area Council.

Yohana also debunked the allegation of financial misappropriation while he was serving at the National Assembly, challenging his opponents to prove their allegations. He however referred any body who wants to find out about his services at the National Assembly, to see the Director of Personnel in the National Assembly for further clarifications.

In his words, "I tendered my resignation letter in December 2006 and it was approved by the National Assembly anybody who cares to know can go to Director of Personnel in the National Assembly to verify, I don't have skeleton in cupboard you are free to do your investigation as journalist. Let me tell you after the allegation of financial misappropriation in the unit, I still worked in that department for six years after the incidence."

Some people in the area may also pitch their tent with ANPP candidate because he has been seen as better alternative in the forthcoming election but the problem for the candidate to counter are enormous as he lacks resources to tackle PDP candidate who has enjoined the backing of incumbent Chairman of the area council and also there is a lot of developmental projects which can be pointed as reference by the PDP candidate in Bwari area council.

Yohana is born and breed in Bwari Area council and has also contributed immensely to the development of the area as he was able to embark on developmental projects for his people in the council, and has assisted many youths in the area of employment. A well trained accountant who

AMAC

Elections in Abuja Municipal Area Council, AMAC are usually the most difficult and complicated in the entire FCT. Unlike the other councils, AMAC elections attract the most attention because of the composition, nature and political awareness of residents. This is as result of the presence of a good number of elites residing within it. Also the council is made up of large number of non indigenes.

As of last count, there were about seven contestants for the position of chairman including Hon. Micha Jiba (PDP), Hon Tanko Yamao (ANPP) ,Princes Vivian Anazodo (Action Congress), Comrade Baba Karshi (DPP) and Barr. Steve Ezenwa among others.

Hon. Micha Jiba PDP: Apart from being the candidate of the ruling party, Jiba can as well be described as a politician who have paid his dues in FCT politics and is knowledgeable about the political tendencies and character of Abuja residents. Jiba is an indigene of FCT and hails from Dangaza, a Gbagyi village within AMAC. He has spends close to 20 years in politics and is said to have a good grasp of FCT; he was able to maneuver his way during the PDP primaries to pick the sole ticket to the surprise of key PDP actors.

Before the primaries however, there were insinuations that current chairman of the council Hon. Zephania Bitrus Jisalo does not want Jiba to emerge as PDP's candidate. This, according to political observers, was meant not to jeopardize Jisalo's chances of becoming a member of the House of Representatives representing AMAC/Bwari constituency. It is believed that both Jisalo and Jiba have the same ancestral linage. So, Jibas's candidature might work against Jisalo when the political permutation are being made. But Jiba overcame all that to grab the ticket.

Jiba is not a political underdog having served as supervisory councilor in AMAC under Esther Audu, currently Nigerian Ambassador to Gambia. Audu, who is said to be nursing a senatorial ambition, is generally believed to be one of the pillars of support for the Jiba's PDP candidate.

Another factor that might work in favour of the Gbagyi born politician is his experience. He had served for eight as councilor representing Garki ward. He is also known to be generous with his resources and for that reason commands a lot of respect and popularity among his people, a factor that might easily work for him.

Aside all these, the most important factor that would work for Jiba is indigeneship. He is an indigene of Gbagyi in Garki, which has produced four out the six elected chairmen of the council thus far. The Garki people, till date, see AMAC chairmanship as their birthright, a development which has made them fight for the AMAC seat with all their strength. In fact, there is a serious political awareness among the Gbagyis indigenes of Abuja, unlike in the past where non- indigenes occupy key political offices in Abuja.

There is also synergy among the indigenes whose focus is that only Gbagyis should elected in whatever capacity in the whole of FCT. This is part of reasons Philip Tanimu Aduda is being supported to unseat Senator Sidi Ali for the FCT senate seat. The new development is however, in contrast with what obtained in past in FCT where non indigenes such as Vivian Anazodo, Senator Maina, Nicholas Ukachukwu won elections into various position in the FCT. This ideal is promoted powerfully by the indigenous elite who believe that FCT was their only opportunity to participate in democracy and fight for the welfare of their people.

This will certainly work for Jiba during the election. Also, Jiba's choice of running mate is also instructive. He picked Hon. Mahammed Adamu a indigene of Kontogora in Niger state who has previously served as councilor and presently the council's secretary. Hon. JIBA is said to holds a Higher National Diploma (HND), from Nassarawa Polytechnic. If these factors come to play, Micha Jiba might as well become the next chairman of AMAC.

Princess Vivian Anazodo AC: Anazodo is a sleek politician. Until she lost the primaries to Jiba, she was a member of the PDP. The loss of the ticket prompted her to cross over to the Action Congress in order to actualize her burning ambition. She is a well known name in FCT politics haven defeated Olisaemeka Wulus in the 1995 election to become AMAC chairman. Her election was however, quashed later by an Abuja court barley four months on the position.

Factors that might work in her favour are her popularity and acceptability by FCT residents especially traders. Though she spent just few months in office, Princess Anazodo is well respected for her achievement within the short period. Within the short time she was able to build the gigantic ultra modern Utako market, which greatly assisted in the decongestion of the famous Wuse market. It is believed that traders will vote massively for her.

She is also a good mobilizer of people, so if she is able to re-enact this trait, she will definitely pose a challenge to other contestants. She is a graduate of sociology from the University of Jos and did her mandatory National Youth Service in Abuja.

Hon. Tanko Yamao ANPP: Just like Princess Anazodo, Yamao was also in the PDP and was even a former councilor representing Gwarinpa ward on the platform of the party. He defected to the ANPP to pick the party's ticket having lost out in his former party. He is an indigene of FCT from Mabushi village. Yamao is not so popular but two major factors that would work in his favour are indigeneship as well as the acceptability of his party by voters in FCT especially, now that events in the country appear to have portrayed the ruling party in bad light.

In fact, most residents of the FCT believe that if not for the alleged superior rigging machineries of the PDP, the ANPP remains the preferred choice of voters going by previous results in FCT elections. For example, Gwagwalada, Kwali, Abaji and Kuje used to be under the control of the ANPP. Generally, Abuja voters normally casts their votes for ANPP in general elections as was noticed be seem in both the 2003 and 2007 elections which General Mohammad Buhari, the party's presidential candidate won. Buhari defeated both Olusegun Obasanjo and Umaru Yar'Adua in the contest for FCT votes in 2003 and 2007. So, if voters maintain this voting trend, Yamao's chances of winning the election for AMAC are certain but they not be as bright as they are for Jiba.

Comrade Baba Karshi is the candidate of the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP). Though Baba Karashi, is an indigene and well known his party, he does not have a commanding presence in Abuja. He is seen as not being accepted well enough to have a strong chance of pulling a surprise for the AMAC seat.

Barr. Steve Ezenwa is Labour Party's hopeful for the AMAC job. However, little is known about him in FCT except that he is a lawyer. One of his disappointments in the forthcoming election is that his party does not pull any string in FCT political permutation. Some voters see him as only trying to build his political experience for future endeavours.