Former presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party, Adewole Adebayo, has raised concerns over widening infrastructure disparities in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), urging residents of Gwagwalada to use Saturday’s Area Council election to demand accountable and development-focused leadership.
Speaking at a rally in Gwagwalada ahead of the poll, Adebayo said the election offers an opportunity for voters to reset governance at the grassroots and prioritise leaders committed to inclusive growth.
He recalled that the FCT was created under the administration of Murtala Muhammed in 1976 to guarantee equitable access to infrastructure and opportunities for all Nigerians, irrespective of background.
However, he noted that sharp contrasts between districts such as Asokoro and Maitama and satellite communities like Gwagwalada reflect a departure from that founding vision.
According to him, residents in satellite towns continue to grapple with irregular electricity supply, inadequate potable water, poor road networks, underfunded schools and insecurity — challenges he said require policy-driven and community-based solutions.
“Sustainable national development must begin from the grassroots,” he said, adding that over-reliance on federal interventions without strengthening local governance structures would not deliver lasting progress.
Adebayo urged voters to look beyond ethnic, religious or financial considerations and instead prioritise competence, integrity and a track record of service in electing leaders.
He described the party’s chairmanship candidate in Gwagwalada, Khalid Bala-Gano, as a community-focused legal practitioner committed to expanding access to education, strengthening social justice and addressing the needs of vulnerable groups.
In his remarks, Bala-Gano expressed optimism about the party’s prospects, describing the rally as the climax of weeks of grassroots mobilisation, stakeholder consultations and issue-based campaigning.
He said the party’s campaign had centred on practical solutions to infrastructure deficits, improved primary healthcare delivery, stronger basic education systems and enhanced security within the council.
According to him, Saturday’s election presents residents with a clear choice for transparent and accountable leadership anchored on inclusive development.
Bala-Gano called on eligible voters to turn out peacefully and participate actively in the democratic process, expressing confidence that the party would secure victory at the polls.
The election will determine leadership across the six Area Councils of the FCT.
