The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has criticised the reported withdrawal of some of its chairmanship candidates ahead of local council elections in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), describing the move as “shameful” and “anti-democratic”.
In a statement issued on Friday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, said the PDP’s National Working Committee received the news “with utter dismay”.
“This action is anti-democratic in every sense and is hereby totally condemned by the party,” the statement said. “Democracy thrives on healthy electoral contests, not forced or induced melodramatic consensus.”
Recall that on Thursday, the PDP’s candidate for Bwari Area Council, Julius Adamu, withdrew from the race and endorsed the APC candidate, Joshua Ishaku Musa. Shortly afterwards, the PDP candidate for Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Hon. Zadna Dantani, also stepped down in support of the APC’s Hon. Christopher Zakka Maikalangu.
Dantani said in a video statement that he had submitted a formal letter of withdrawal to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). He cited the intervention of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, as a factor in his decision.
The PDP alleged that the withdrawals reflected what it described as “voodoo democracy” and accused unnamed party figures of undermining internal processes for political gain.
“As sad as this development is, it is a pointer to the type of voodoo democracy promoted by those parading as leaders of the PDP, whose only interest is to ‘hold’ the party for the President,” the party stated.
They warned that such actions, if unchecked, could set a precedent ahead of future national elections.
“This is exactly what they intended to do to Nigerians, when close to the Presidential elections, they can compel, induce or cajole all the other candidates to step down or withdraw for the President to have a smooth sail back to Aso Rock Villa, despite the abysmal performance of his administration.
“It was for ignoble, reckless and shameless acts like these that we excommunicated them from our party, in order to rebuild a strong opposition party, prepared for a struggle to return to power by 2027,” the statement said.
The party also urged voters in the FCT to remain vigilant during the polls and to safeguard the integrity of the electoral process. It called on presiding officers to transmit Form EC8A results promptly after announcing outcomes at polling units.
The Abuja Area Council elections are scheduled to take place on Saturday amid heightened political tensions, with the PDP insisting it remains committed to what it called a transparent and competitive democratic process.
