The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has intensified its bid to take control of the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), promising inclusive governance, welfare-driven policies, and accountability if elected in the forthcoming FCT Area Council election.
Speaking at the grand finale of the party’s campaign rally in Abuja, the SDP national chairman, Professor Abubakar Gombe, expressed confidence in the party’s chances, insisting that its candidates possess the competence, character and capacity required to reposition the council.
Professor Gombe said leadership must directly impact citizens’ daily lives, stressing that governance should guarantee security, peace and measurable social benefits for residents.
“Leadership is about the present and the well-being of the people. A true leader must create a social environment where citizens feel secure, experience peace, and benefit directly from governance,” he stated.
He noted that the party’s chairmanship candidate had already demonstrated commitment to grassroots development by supporting indigent residents of AMAC through a personal foundation even before seeking public office. According to him, such interventions would be expanded if entrusted with the full resources of the council.
“We assure the people of AMAC that they will not regret voting for the SDP. Our party is rooted in welfare and people-centred governance. The promised progress is within reach,” he added.
The SDP national chairman urged residents to turn out en masse to vote, remain peaceful, and protect their votes until final results are declared at the Area Council level.
Also addressing supporters, the party’s former presidential candidate, Prince Adewole Adebayo, broadened the conversation to national governance, urging citizens to reclaim democratic accountability from political leaders.
He criticised what he described as years of poor leadership and mismanagement, arguing that governance failures have weakened public institutions and services across the country.
“The biggest mistake in Nigeria today is Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Years of mismanagement have allowed our resources to be misused, but they cannot take away our intelligence or our voice,” Adebayo said.
He lamented declining standards in public education and healthcare, alleging that schools have been shut, workers dismissed, hospitals neglected, and resources diverted without tangible benefits to communities.
Adebayo also raised concerns about fiscal responsibility, warning that reckless borrowing could mortgage the future of younger generations.
“One bridge today can cost more than decades of investment in Abuja. Borrowing today becomes debt for our children tomorrow. Government exists for the people, and our constitution is clear about that,” he stated.
Calling for transparency in elections, he stressed the need to safeguard votes and ensure credible processes, including electronic transmission of results.
For his part, the SDP chairmanship candidate for AMAC, Dr. Obinna Simon, declared that residents are ready for what he described as a new era of inclusive and accountable governance.
He maintained that AMAC belongs to all residents, both indigenes and non-indigenes, and must be administered as a shared civic space built on fairness and equal opportunity.
“AMAC is not the private estate of any individual or group. It is a public trust. Leadership must reflect the diversity of our people and respond to the needs of every community without discrimination,” Dr. Simon said.
He argued that democracy must produce tangible dividends, including functional public schools, accessible healthcare, youth empowerment initiatives and social protection programmes for vulnerable residents.
Dr. Simon lamented instances where children are forced out of school for extended periods and where residents rely heavily on expensive private healthcare due to weak public health infrastructure.
He pledged that an SDP-led administration would prioritise education reform, revitalisation of primary healthcare, transparent budgeting and performance-based service delivery.
“Our people deserve a council that works. Government hospitals must be properly equipped and staffed. Schools must remain open and conducive for learning. Empowerment must go beyond rhetoric to structured economic opportunities for women and youth,” he said.
The candidate urged voters to see the ballot as a tool for accountability, insisting that leadership must be earned through service rather than entitlement.
Reaffirming his commitment, Dr. Simon said his administration would anchor governance on social justice, transparency, and sustainable development, promising to build an AMAC that works for all residents.
