FCT Poll: PDP Heads to Tribunal After APC Dominates Council Election

The Peoples Democratic Party has constituted a legal team to challenge the outcome of Saturday’s Area Council elections in the Federal Capital Territory, following the victory recorded by candidates of the All Progressives Congress in most of the contests.

Results announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission showed that the APC secured five out of the six chairmanship positions contested across the councils. 

The ruling party won in Abuja Municipal Area Council, Abaji, Bwari, Kwali and Kuje, while the PDP clinched victory only in Gwagwalada Area Council.

The election, conducted to fill six chairmanship seats and 62 councillorship positions, witnessed low voter turnout in several polling units, alongside allegations of vote-buying and other irregularities raised by opposition parties.

In a statement issued on Sunday by its National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, the PDP confirmed the inauguration of a special legal committee to contest the results, alleging that the exercise was marred by widespread misconduct.

The party disclosed that its National Legal Adviser, Shafi Bara’u, would lead the legal team and urged candidates dissatisfied with the outcome to immediately commence the process of seeking redress through lawful channels.

While congratulating its successful candidates, the party particularly hailed the chairman-elect of Gwagwalada Area Council, Mohammed Kasim, describing the victory as significant despite what it termed hostile conditions during the election.

The statement read, “This victory, though fewer than expected, is remarkable given the unprecedented intimidation, the influence of money politics and executive interference witnessed during the polls.”

The PDP further alleged that security personnel were deployed in ways that compromised the credibility of the exercise, claiming that reports and video footage indicated instances where result sheets were removed from polling units and voters intimidated.

According to the party, the low turnout recorded during the election reflected growing public distrust in the electoral system, which it linked to provisions of the Electoral Act 2026.

It added that the outcome of the council polls could serve as an early warning ahead of the 2027 general elections if urgent reforms were not implemented to restore public confidence.

Meanwhile, INEC declared Christopher Maikalangu of the APC as winner of the Abuja Municipal Area Council chairmanship election after polling 40,295 votes out of the 62,861 valid votes cast. 

The Returning Officer for AMAC, Andrew Abue, said Maikalangu met all legal requirements and was duly returned elected.

Reacting to the development, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar expressed concern over what he described as a shrinking democratic space in the country, pointing to the low turnout in the FCT polls as evidence of declining trust in Nigeria’s electoral process.

In a statement released by his media office, the African Democratic Congress chieftain attributed the poor participation to a political atmosphere characterised by intimidation, intolerance and weakening opposition voices, urging political parties and democratic stakeholders to unite in defence of democracy.

Also commenting, a presidential aspirant of the PDP, Dr Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, said the election outcome indicated renewed strength for the opposition party ahead of the 2027 general elections. 

He commended party supporters for standing firm despite internal disputes and political pressure, adding that the performance demonstrated the PDP’s continued relevance in the nation’s political landscape.