Following the closely contested Federal Capital Territory (FCT) elections in February 2026, a new wave of grassroots leadership has taken charge across Abuja’s six local government areas. Whether you are a resident keeping track of your local administration or an analyst monitoring political shifts in the capital, knowing who is at the helm of local governance is crucial.
Below is the updated list of FCT Area Council chairmen, detailing their political affiliations and key background highlights for the 2026-2029 administrative tenure.
Abaji Area Council
Chairman: Hon. Umar Abdullahi Abubakar
Political Party: All Progressives Congress (APC)
Status: Newly elected (2026).
Located in the southernmost part of the FCT, Abaji is administered by Umar Abdullahi Abubakar, who secured the seat to help solidify the APC’s majority in the territory.
His administration is noted for its focus on local welfare, including cash empowerment programs for widows and educational bursary schemes for Abaji youth.
Hon. Umar Abdullahi Abubakar is a Nigerian politician and the elected Chairman of the Abaji Area Council in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
As a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), he successfully secured the Abaji Area Council chairmanship seat in the FCT elections held on February 21, 2026, helping the APC win a majority of the territory’s area councils.
His first term in Abaji was notable for the free medical outreach Programme, which benefited over 2,000 people from all 10 wards. He gave financial support to council staff when the fuel subsidy was removed in 2023 to reduce hardship.
Now re-elected to office with 15,536 votes, he’s set to reach as many wards as possible by collaborating with the traditional ruler of the Abaji community to ensure that no part of the community is left out of his evolutionary project.
Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC)
Chairman: Hon. Christopher Zakka Maikalangu
Political Party: All Progressives Congress (APC)
Status: Second-term incumbent.
AMAC is the most central and economically significant council in the FCT, housing the Nigerian presidency and federal ministries.
Maikalangu is a two-term Chairman of the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), a major grassroots leader who successfully secured his re-election in 2026.
Hon. Christopher Zakka Maikalangu is a Nigerian politician and the two-term Chairman of the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
He grew up in Garki, where he began his political career as a ward Councillor in 2013. Originally elected under the PDP, Maikalangu led a massive political realignment in April 2025, defecting to the APC alongside over 20,000 members and all 12 of his serving councillors.
Widely known as “Maikalangu,” he is a prominent Abuja indigene who has built strong political grassroots support across AMAC’s 12 wards. AMAC is widely considered the most central and economically significant council in the FCT, as it houses the Nigerian presidency and federal ministries.
Bwari Area Council
Chairman: Hon. Joshua Ishaku Musa
Political Party: All Progressives Congress (APC)
Status: Newly elected (2026).
Bwari, known for hosting key institutions like the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and the Nigerian Law School, saw a significant political shift in the 2026 polls.
Musa secured a decisive victory with 18,466 votes after the main opposition PDP candidate stepped down to support his campaign just 72 hours before the election.
Hon. Joshua Ishaku Musa is a Nigerian politician and the elected Chairman of the Bwari Area Council in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. He is a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and won all 33 delegate votes at the APC June 2025 primary election.
He won the Bwari Area Council chairmanship seat during the FCT Area Council elections on February 21, 2026. He secured the office by polling 18,466 votes, defeating candidates from the ADC, ZLP, and other opposition parties.
His campaign received a major boost 72 hours before the election when the main opposition candidate, Julius Adamu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), officially stepped down to support him, a move reportedly brokered by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike. He is associated with the traditional title “Sarkin Yaki” (Chief of War/Warlord), which was notably celebrated in a 2025 musical tribute by local artist Sheks Jp.
Gwagwalada Area Council
Chairman: Hon. Mohammed Kasim
Political Party: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)
Status: Newly elected (2026).
Gwagwalada, a major educational and industrial hub in the FCT, is the sole area council successfully retained by the opposition during the 2026 election cycle.
A veteran of local politics who previously ran for Vice-Chairmanship in 2013, Kasim delivered Gwagwalada for the PDP, polling 22,165 votes against the APC.
Hon. Mohammed Kasim is a Nigerian politician and the current Chairman of the Gwagwalada Area Council in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
He holds a First School Leaving Certificate (FSLC), a Grade II Teachers’ Certificate, and a National Certificate in Education (NCE). As a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and a veteran of Gwagwalada local politics, he previously ran as the PDP candidate for Vice-Chairman of the Gwagwalada Area Council, alongside chairmanship candidate Danze Mustapha, in the 2013 elections.
He won the Gwagwalada chairmanship seat in the FCT Area Council elections held on February 21, 2026. He won the PDP area council seat, polling 22,165 votes to defeat the APC candidate, Yahaya Usman Shehu, and others.
Kuje Area Council
Chairman: Hon. Danjuma Samuel Shekwolo
Political Party: All Progressives Congress (APC)
Status: Newly elected (2026)
Kuje, often referred to as the “food basket” of the FCT, elected Hon. Shekwolo alongside his Vice-Chairmanship candidate, Boyi Asabe Zainab, during the February 2026 elections.
The 46-year-old chairman successfully flipped the council to the APC, unseating the previous opposition hold in the area.
Hon. Danjuma Samuel Shekwolo is a Nigerian politician and the newly elected Chairman of the Kuje Area Council in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
He holds a First School Leaving Certificate (FSLC), a National Examinations Council (NECO) certificate, and a National Diploma/Higher National Diploma (ND/HND).
He ran as the APC candidate for the Kuje Area Council during the FCT elections held on February 21, 2026. Running alongside his Vice-Chairmanship candidate, Boyi Asabe Zainab, he successfully secured the chairmanship seat, delivering Kuje for the APC with 17,269 votes. The level of resilience he showed during the election sets him on a task to bring all parties together while still fulfilling his mandate.
Kwali Area Council
Chairman: Hon. Daniel Nuhu Kwali
Political Party: All Progressives Congress (APC)
Status: Newly elected (2026)
Kwali is known for its rich cultural heritage, particularly its traditional pottery. Hon. Daniel Nuhu took over the council’s leadership in the recent grassroots polls.
The 41-year-old candidate secured the chairmanship seat by polling 17,032 votes, running on a joint ticket with Vice-Chairmanship candidate Abdullahi Ramatu.
Hon. Daniel Nuhu Kwali is a Nigerian politician and the newly elected Chairman of the Kwali Area Council in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
He holds a First School Leaving Certificate (FSLC), a Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE) certificate, and a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degree. He is a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and was the outgoing speaker of the Kwali Area Council legislative assembly.
He ran as the APC candidate for the Kwali Area Council during the FCT elections held in February 2026. Running alongside his Vice-Chairmanship candidate, Abdullahi Ramatu, he successfully secured the chairmanship seat by polling 17,032 votes to deliver Kwali for the APC.