By Veronica Dariya
Some residents of Bwari Area Council of the FCT have expressed mixed reactions, following the outcome of the All Progressives Congress (APC) House of Representatives primary election for AMAC/Bwari Federal Constituency.
The residents expressed their views in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja.
While some of them congratulated the incumbent Chairman of Bwari, Mr John Gabaya, on his emergence as the party’s flagbearer for the 2027 election, others raised concerns over allegations of irregularities during the exercise.
The Chairman-elect of Bwari Area Council, Mr Joshua Ishaku, congratulated Gabaya on what he described as a well-deserved victory.
Ishaku, who posted his congratulatory message on his official social media page, commended Gabaya’s leadership qualities and contributions to grassroots development in the constituency.
“Your leadership has been instrumental in bringing positive developments to the area and we look forward to your continued efforts in making Bwari a better place for all residents,” he said.
Mr Kaura Peter, a supporter, also described Gabaya’s victory as a reflection of his popularity among grassroots supporters.
“Many people know him because of his contributions to the area council and we believe he can represent the constituency well if elected next year,” he said.
Peter also described the aspirant as a “tested and trusted leader with the experience needed to provide effective representation for the constituency.
“With unity, dedication and maximum support as a people, Gabaya possesses the qualities needed to pilot the affairs of the constituency successfully, come 2027,” Peter said.
Similarly, Mr Musa Adamu, another resident, described the outcome of the primary election as a testimony that the candidate has genuine love from the people of FCT.
He said: “AMAC and Bwari are one family, and now is the time for us to come together with one mind and one voice for the advancement of our great party.”
According to Adamu, Bwari has not been given the opportunity to represent AMAC/Bwari federal constituency for the past 28 years.
He stated that fate and opportunity had presented the council with one of the most credible and capable aspirants.
“In the spirit of equity, fairness, inclusivity and justice, it is only right that Bwari be given the opportunity to experience representation in the Green Chamber of the National Assembly for the very first time,” he said.
Adamu also urged all indigenous people of the federal constituency to put aside their differences and stand firm in unity and one voice for the purpose of development.
However, for Mr Amos Jatau, an APC supporter, the primary election lacked credibility, transparency and legitimacy.
Jatau said that supporters and registered members in some areas were fully prepared for the exercise, expressing the regret, however, that election officials and materials were not deployed to their locations.
“They told them to be patient; they waited till late into the night but no electoral committee member or ballot material arrived at some of the affected communities,” he said.
Jatau called on the leadership of the party to address the allegation of irregularities raised by aggrieved aspirants and party members in the conduct of the exercise.
Similarly, Mallam Abdullahi Sani, a youth leader in Dutse, said transparency in party primaries was important to sustain public confidence in a democratic process.
“If there are allegations that some wards did not participate, the party should investigate properly to avoid disunity,” he said.
Another resident, Miss Esther James, said that the controversy surrounding the exercise should not distract leaders from focusing on issues affecting residents.
“We want leaders who will address unemployment, poor roads and insecurity in our communities,” she said.
James also appealed to political stakeholders in the federal constituency to embrace peaceful dialogue and place the interests of the people above personal ambitions, ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Meanwhile, party stakeholders have called for reconciliation among aggrieved members to strengthen APC ahead of the next election cycle.
They stressed the need for supporters to embrace peace, unity and collective progress in the interest of development across the FCT.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)