The engagement brought together political stakeholders and traditional representatives, with discussions on leadership, community development and education taking centre stage.
The Senate minority leader of the 9th Assembly, Distinguished Senator Philip Tanimu Aduda MFR, CON, on Sunday, November 8, 2026, brought together political stakeholders and communities and village traditional representatives for discussions on leadership, representation and grassroots development.
The engagement provided an opportunity for stakeholders to exchange views on the political direction of the FCT, the importance of effective representation and the need for leaders who understand the peculiar challenges facing communities across the territory.
During the gathering, a participant expressed dissatisfaction with the performance of the incumbent FCT Senator, Ireti Kingibe, describing her representation as having made little impact in the FCT. He declared his determination to support the return of Senator Philip Tanimu Aduda to the National Assembly, arguing that the territory needs experienced leaders with established grassroots connections.
Emphasising his position on leadership experience, he maintained that the FCT requires individuals who understand its political landscape and the everyday challenges of its communities.
During remarks, Senator Aduda encouraged the Hakimi and Dakachis to have confidence in all the candidates being presented by the APC, describing all as experienced individuals who are familiar with the problems confronting their respective communities.
He urged the traditional representatives to recognise the importance of experience, community knowledge and effective grassroots engagement in leadership.
The Executive Chairman of Kuje Area Council, Hon. Samuel Danjuma Shekwolo, also addressed the gathering, clarifying that inviting Senator Aduda to Kuje was not because he lacked the capacity to manage the affairs of the event.
According to him, the invitation was motivated by the importance of maintaining close relationships with traditional leaders and creating opportunities for direct interaction.
He explained that it is always valuable to have one’s leader physically present, allowing for face-to-face conversations, consultations and stronger connections between political leaders and their constituents.
The engagement also featured a community-focused intervention by the Hakimi of Hune, who donated exercise books to pupils and footballs to encourage education and sporting activities among young people.
The gesture was aimed at supporting educational development and promoting extracurricular activities among children.
The donation also demonstrated support for the developmental efforts of the Executive Chairman of Kuje Area Council, the APC candidate for Abuja South Federal Constituency, the APC FCT Senatorial candidate and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
One of the major highlights of the engagement was the announcement of full university scholarships for 16 students from Kuje Area Council by the Pro-Chancellor of Leadership University Abuja, Dr. Yahaya Musa Muhammad Arada.
The scholarship package, valued at approximately ₦125 million, is intended to provide educational opportunities for beneficiaries from the area and support their pursuit of higher education.
The scholarship covers studies in Nursing, Community Health, Cybersecurity, Petroleum Technology, Economics and Security Studies etc.
The intervention represents a significant educational commitment to young people in Kuje, offering the beneficiaries an opportunity to pursue university education in disciplines relevant to healthcare, technology, energy, economics and security.
Dr. Arada’s gesture added an important educational dimension to the political and community engagement, demonstrating how interventions in education can form part of broader conversations about grassroots development.
Beyond the political conversations, the engagement in Kuje brought together issues of representation, traditional institution engagement, community participation and educational empowerment.
From Senator Aduda’s interaction with traditional representatives to the Executive Chairman’s explanation of the importance of leadership accessibility, the Hakimi of Hune’s donation and Dr. Arada’s scholarship announcement, the event featured several interventions centred on community development.
