Ahead of the 2026 Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council Election on Saturday, February 21, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate for Abuja Municipal Area Council, Dr Obinna Simon, has hinted that he will work with the traditional rulers in the FCT to ensure that insecurity is reduced to the barest minimum in Nigeria’s capital, if elected.

Simon, who spoke to journalists on Sunday in Abuja, pointed out that the personnel of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) have been overstretched.

“Insecurity in AMAC is very easy. My administration will ensure that we work closely with traditional rulers. I know the role traditional rulers played back then in Katsina State. Every security meeting, all the traditional rulers will come to the area council for a security meeting,” he said.

Simon also said that he will declare a state of emergency in the education sector in the FCT, adding that teachers’ welfare and infrastructure development will be prioritised.

“I shed tears when I went round the schools in AMAC. I found children sitting on the bare floor, receiving lectures.

“I made it very, very clear that I will, on assuming office, declare a state of emergency on education in AMAC. Schools were on strike in AMAC for over five months.

“So, the welfare of teachers is very key in education. It’s when somebody is comfortable that you teach children very well. So, education is very important to me. Teachers should be assured that if I win, their welfare, including training and retraining, will receive serious attention,” he said.

Simon promised that his administration will pay special attention to Primary Health Centres (PHCs), saying that they have been grossly under-funded.

He also said his administration will also embark on massive youth empowerment programmes as part of efforts not only to make young people self-dependent and job creators but also a solution to insecurity.