Christopher Zakka Maikalangu, the Chairman of the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), has officially switched allegiance from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), citing the need to bring federal opportunities and development to his constituents. The announcement, made on Sunday, April 13th, signals a significant political shift within the Federal Capital Territory.
In a statement released through his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Public Affairs, Kingsley Madaki, Maikalangu emphasized that AMAC residents were being disadvantaged due to their area’s opposition party status. He argued that crucial federal jobs, appointments, and interventions were bypassing the council, hindering its progress.
“It was important we took a position, and the position we took is for the good of our democracy and to ensure that the good people of AMAC move forward,” Maikalangu stated. “My people must know that for me to have made this decision, I considered the general interests of AMAC residents. I was not elected to lead the entire Nigeria; I was elected to lead AMAC residents. I looked at the interests of my people, and I have seen that these interests were not protected in any other party than the APC.”
He highlighted specific concerns, such as the lack of ecological funding for deteriorating areas, which he believes were being overlooked due to political affiliations. “We are losing opportunities in terms of federal jobs and appointments; the benefits from the federal level, as well as federal interventions, are not reaching us because of party differences. This is often how politics works,” he explained. “Let us keep emotions aside. The more they continue to deprive us of these jobs and opportunities, the more we will lose our wealth to grow and move forward.”
Maikalangu also pointed to the recent defections of other prominent politicians, including former House of Representatives member Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu, who joined the APC to pursue the 2025 Anambra governorship election, and Dr. Kingsley Kelachukwu Okoronkwo, who left the Labour Party amid internal strife. He emphasized that these transitions underscored the dynamic nature of Nigerian politics and the pursuit of perceived benefits.
He credited Hon. Gabriel Bravo Oluohu, an APC chieftain, with encouraging his move, stating, “It is noteworthy that Hon. Gabriel Bravo Oluohu, an APC chieftain, encouraged me to make this move for the betterment of AMAC. While my decision may seem strategic for my political career, the underlying reason remains the overall good of my people.”
The defection is expected to have significant political ramifications within AMAC and the broader FCT, potentially reshaping the local political landscape ahead of future elections.
AMAC Chairman Maikalangu Defects from PDP to APC
