A major political crisis is reportedly brewing within the Kwali Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), with multiple council workers and sources close to the administration alleging an escalating power struggle between the Council Chairman, Daniel Nuhu, and his predecessor, Hon. Danladi Chiya, over an alleged inherited debt of more than ₦42 billion, the funding of Chiya’s House of Representatives ambition, and a sweeping restructuring of the council’s Accounts Department.
Daniel Nuhu, who emerged Chairman of the Kwali Area Council after winning the February 2026 Area Council election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), succeeded Chiya, under whom he was widely regarded as a close political Boy before their relationship reportedly deteriorated. Chiya, who served two terms as chairman of the council, is now the APC candidate for the Abuja South Federal Constituency seat in the House of Representatives.
Council workers, who spoke to ChroniclesReporters on condition of anonymity for fear of victimisation, alleged that the disagreement centres on liabilities reportedly accumulated during Chiya’s administration, which they claimed exceed ₦42 billion.
According to the workers, contrary to claims that the current chairman was unwilling to assume responsibility for the alleged liabilities, Nuhu had indicated his readiness to gradually shoulder the debt in order to stabilise the council’s finances. However, they alleged that he insisted the administration could not simultaneously clear the huge financial obligations and commit substantial resources to financing Chiya’s House of Representatives campaign.
“The chairman reportedly told the former chairman to choose one priority. Either the council concentrates on governance while gradually paying the debt allegedly inherited from his administration, or resources are diverted to funding his House of Representatives ambition,” one council worker alleged.
Another source claimed that Chiya insisted both objectives should proceed simultaneously, urging the current administration to offset the alleged debt while also providing financial support for his campaign for the Abuja South Federal Constituency seat.
The workers alleged that the disagreement quickly escalated into a full-blown political fallout, bringing to an end what had long been viewed as a close political relationship between the two APC leaders.
The dispute is also said to have triggered a significant restructuring within the council’s financial administration.
Multiple workers alleged that Chairman Nuhu recently carried out a major overhaul of the Council’s Accounts Department by redeploying or replacing officials believed to be loyal to the former chairman and appointing personnel considered loyal to his own administration.
According to the sources, the reshuffle was intended to strengthen the chairman’s control over the council’s financial operations amid the widening political divide.
The development has reportedly deepened divisions within the council, with workers and political appointees allegedly aligning themselves with either the incumbent chairman or the former council boss, raising concerns over growing factionalisation within the local government.
Daniel Nuhu was elected Chairman of the Kwali Area Council in the February 2026 FCT Area Council elections, while Danladi Chiya previously served two terms as chairman before securing the APC ticket to contest for the Abuja South Federal Constituency seat in the House of Representatives.
As of the time of filing this report, neither Chairman Daniel Nuhu nor former Chairman Danladi Chiya had publicly responded to the allegations. The claims regarding the alleged ₦42 billion debt, the reported request to fund Chiya’s House of Representatives ambition, and the reasons behind the Accounts Department reshuffle. Both men are entitled to respond to the allegations, and their comments will be reflected in subsequent reports if received.