By Oso Abidemi
As preparations intensify ahead of the February 2026 Area Council Elections in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the Labour Party (LP) on Saturday held a public debate for chairmanship aspirants contesting under its platform in the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC).
The debate, tagged “My Manifesto,” featured five aspirants who presented their policy plans and strategies to address pressing challenges within AMAC, including infrastructure decay, poor water supply, insecurity, and youth unemployment.
LP Chairman in AMAC and Convener of the event, Mr. Ifeanyi Uzochukwu, said the initiative was aimed at deepening internal democracy and ensuring that only credible candidates emerge through the party’s primary process.
“This debate serves as a screening mechanism. We want aspirants to speak directly to delegates, articulate their vision, and tell us what they stand for,” Uzochukwu stated. “It is a transparent process that other political parties have yet to adopt.”
Uzochukwu explained that by engaging with delegates ahead of the party primaries, aspirants would be held accountable and delegates would be better positioned to choose competent leaders.
Moderated by civil society advocate Dr. Peter Piper, the debate drilled the aspirants on issues ranging from water management, education, and health to road maintenance, traffic control, and waste disposal.
Aspirants were also asked how they plan to engage local communities and remain accessible to constituents if elected.
All five aspirants; Mr. Kingsley Udoka (Wuse Ward), Mr. Chilaka Sigmund (Garki Ward), Mrs. Princess Awunor (City Centre Ward), Mr. Vanish Agbon (Kabusa Ward), and Mr. Ifeanyichukwu Ajaegbu (Orozco Ward), outlined individual blueprints focusing on infrastructure upgrades, youth empowerment, education reforms, and inclusive governance.
They each pledged to work closely with ward-level stakeholders, improve service delivery, and address long-standing developmental gaps in the council.
The event was attended by Labour Party executives from the 12 wards within AMAC and representatives from other area councils across the FCT.
The debate serves as a precursor to the party primaries, after which the winner will represent LP in the February 2026 chairmanship elections.
Observers say the debate is a welcome step toward issue-based campaigning and a sign of growing political maturity within the FCT’s local governance landscape.
