FCT Polls: PDP heads to court over alleged irregularities

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has constituted a dedicated legal panel to contest the outcome of Saturday’s chairmanship and councillorship elections across the Area Councils of the Federal Capital Territory.

According to results released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the All Progressives Congress (APC) secured five of the six chairmanship positions. The APC clinched victory in Abuja Municipal Area Council, Abaji, Bwari, Kwali and Kuje, while the PDP emerged victorious in Gwagwalada.

The polls, organised to fill six chairmanship seats and 62 councillorship positions, recorded low voter turnout, with allegations of vote-buying in several locations.

In a statement issued on Sunday by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, the PDP congratulated its successful candidates but insisted that the exercise was riddled with irregularities.

The party announced that its National Legal Adviser, Shafi Bara’u, Esq., would lead the legal challenge. It also called on candidates who believe they were unfairly treated to take swift action within the time allowed by law.

The PDP particularly hailed Mohammed Kasim, chairman-elect of Gwagwalada Area Council, alongside its victorious councillorship candidates.

While describing the win in Gwagwalada as encouraging, the party claimed it was achieved despite what it termed intimidation, the deployment of substantial financial inducements and executive interference.

Ememobong further alleged that there were instances where armed security personnel allegedly removed result sheets from polling units, intimidated voters and influenced the collation process.

The statement also linked the reported voter apathy to what it described as public dissatisfaction with the Electoral Act 2026, arguing that many citizens have lost confidence in elections conducted under the law.

It warned that unless urgent reforms are undertaken, the FCT council elections could signal potential challenges ahead of the 2027 general elections.