The FCT Area Council Election Appeal Tribunal on Saturday upheld Hon. Christopher Maikalangu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as Chairman of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC).

In a unanimous judgment, the three-man tribunal, including Justice S. B Belgore (Chairman), Justice Yusuf Halilu (member 1), and Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie (member 2), dismissed the August 5 judgment of the FCT Area Council Election Tribunal, which declared Hon. Murtala Usman Karshi of the All Progressives Congress (APC), winner of the election held on February 12.

The justices said that the judgment of the lower tribunal was not only evil but negated all the achievements recorded in Nigeria’s democracy.

While reading out the lead judgment in suit FCT/ACEAT/AP/01/22, which had Christopher Maikalangu as appellant and Murtala Karshi and three others as respondent, Justice Yusuf Halilu said that the lower tribunal erred by ignoring contradictory evidence before it and did a hatchet job by declaring Karshi winner of the election.

He further revealed, “It is not in doubt the APC as a party was faced with legal battles after the party primaries to nominate a flagship bearer for the AMAC election held on February 12, 2022.

Addressing journalists after the judgment, AMAC Chairman, Christopher Maikalangu, said the judiciary is the last hope of the common man, thanking the tribunal for defending democracy.