***Demands Justice Over AMAC Poll
Grief and defiance defined the tone of a press conference addressed on Monday by the African Democratic Congress (ADC) chairmanship candidate in the February 21 Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) election, Dr. Moses Paul, as he announced a lifetime scholarship for the children of a slain party agent and rejected the outcome of the poll.
At the heart of Dr. Paul’s address was the death of Musa Abubakar, an ADC polling agent at the Gwagwa unit, who, according to the candidate, was killed while attempting to defend the integrity of votes cast during the election.
Fighting back emotion, Dr. Paul described Abubakar not merely as a party agent, but as “a father, a patriot, and a believer in democracy who chose courage over fear.”
“No election victory is worth a human life,” he said. “I have visited his family, and in honour of his bravery and sacrifice, I have committed to placing his children on full scholarship. It is a modest gesture, but it is a promise that his sacrifice will not leave his family abandoned.”
He stressed that the scholarship would cover the children’s education as a lasting tribute to their father’s commitment to democratic principles.
Dr. Paul called on security agencies and relevant authorities to immediately launch a transparent and impartial investigation into the circumstances surrounding Abubakar’s death.
He insisted that accountability is essential not only for justice, but for restoring public faith in the electoral system.
“Democracy cannot thrive where impunity reigns,” he declared. “Justice must not only be done, it must be seen to be done.”
Beyond the tragedy, Dr. Paul firmly rejected the officially declared results of the AMAC chairmanship election.
After what he described as extensive grassroots engagement and overwhelming support across communities including Karshi, Wuse, Nyanya, and Gui, he said he was convinced that his campaign earned the people’s mandate.
“I have reviewed the announced outcome,” he said. “But it does not reflect the true will of the residents of Abuja.”
He cited what he described as widespread irregularities, including movement restrictions through the imposition of a curfew, intimidation and alleged attacks on ADC members, massive vote buying across several wards, and voter suppression caused by the late arrival of election materials in critical polling units such as Kabusa.
Dr. Paul also raised concerns over reported alteration and mutilation of polling unit results, warning that such actions severely undermine electoral credibility.
“These actions erode trust. They weaken institutions. They diminish the confidence of citizens who came out believing their votes would count,” he said.
Yet, despite the setback, Dr. Paul framed the moment not as a defeat, but as a defining test of democratic resolve. He praised the young voters, women, elders, and volunteers who participated despite challenges, describing their courage as evidence of a growing civic awakening in AMAC.
“Our movement was never built on titles,” he said. “It was built on truth, on sacrifice, and on the belief that leadership must be earned, not imposed.”
He thanked the leadership and members of the African Democratic Congress for what he called their principled stand, and reaffirmed his commitment to pursuing redress through lawful and democratic means.
Concluding his address, Dr. Paul returned to the memory of Musa Abubakar, urging residents not to allow fear to silence their voices.
“One life lost is one too many,” he said. “But his courage must inspire us to demand better, to insist on justice, and to build a democracy where no citizen dies protecting a vote.”
With that, he pledged to remain accountable to the people of AMAC, vowing that the struggle for transparent governance and electoral integrity would continue — peacefully, lawfully, and relentlessly.
