A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned the withdrawal of some of its chairmanship candidates from the forthcoming Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections, describing the move as anti-democratic and dangerous for opposition politics in Nigeria.
The reaction followed the decision of PDP candidates in Bwari and Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) to step down from the race and endorse candidates of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 21 February 2026 polls.
In Bwari, PDP chairmanship candidate Julius Adamu withdrew from the contest and publicly backed APC candidate Joshua Musa. Similarly, in AMAC, PDP candidate Zadna Dantani stepped down and endorsed the incumbent APC chairman, Christopher Maikalangu. Both withdrawals occurred after consultations linked to the influence of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, who has openly pledged support for candidates aligned with President Bola Tinubu in the FCT elections.
The PDP faction, aligned with elements of the party’s National Working Committee, said it was “utterly dismayed” by what it called a deliberate attempt by some party leaders to weaken the PDP from within. In a statement signed by its publicity secretary, Ini Ememobong, the group described the withdrawals as “anti-democratic in every sense” and warned that such actions undermine voter choice and internal party competition.
The faction accused unnamed PDP figures of promoting what it termed “voodoo democracy” and acting to place the party structure at the disposal of the ruling APC. It further warned that the precedent of opposition candidates stepping down for ruling-party contenders in local elections could foreshadow broader political alignments and forced withdrawals ahead of the 2027 general elections.
According to the statement, the faction had previously sanctioned or “excommunicated” those it held responsible for anti-party conduct as part of efforts to rebuild the PDP as a credible opposition platform. It urged party members and supporters in the FCT to resist attempts to erode the party’s electoral presence in the councils.
The withdrawals have intensified concerns about deepening divisions within the PDP, particularly over the role of Minister Wike and his allies, who maintain influence over party structures in the FCT despite ongoing national disputes within the party. Critics within the PDP view the endorsements of APC candidates as evidence of collusion that could hand strategic councils to the ruling party without contest.
Supporters of the withdrawals, however, argue that political alliances and consensus arrangements are legitimate strategies in local elections and can promote administrative continuity. Neither the withdrawing candidates nor the FCT administration has publicly acknowledged wrongdoing, with Dantani earlier stating his decision was voluntary and duly communicated to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
With the FCT Area Council elections scheduled for 21 February, analysts say the controversy has transformed what is typically a low-profile local poll into a significant test of opposition cohesion and emerging alliances ahead of the 2027 electoral cycle.
Abuja Network News
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