PDP Congratulates Winners, Launches Legal Team Over FCT Elections

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has responded to the results of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections, congratulating its victorious candidates while announcing the inauguration of a legal team to challenge the conduct of the polls.

In a statement on Sunday signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, the party alleged that the elections, held on February 21, 2026, were marred by intimidation, executive interference, and other irregularities.

“The National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party has congratulated successful candidates of the PDP in the Area Council Elections which were held in Abuja on February 21, 2026,” the statement read.

The PDP described the victories as hard-won, given what it called “unprecedented intimidation, high-powered money politics and brazen executive brigandage.” It further alleged that armed security operatives were deployed to influence the outcome.

“Reports and video evidence abound where armed security personnel were used to cart away result sheets in polling units, intimidate voters, and unduly influence the outcome of the elections,” the party said.

The statement specifically congratulated Mohammed Kasim, who was declared winner of the Gwagwalada Area Council chairmanship election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), alongside other successful councillors.

Meanwhile, INEC had earlier declared Christopher Maikalangu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) the winner of the Abuja Municipal Area Council election.

To address post-election grievances, the PDP announced the constitution of a special legal team led by the party’s National Legal Adviser, Shafi Bara’u, to manage complaints and litigation arising from the polls.

“Candidates with genuine complaints should immediately contact the National Legal Adviser for prompt action, as delay is fatal in election petition cases,” the party advised.

The PDP also linked the low voter turnout to perceived flaws in the Electoral Act 2026, suggesting that the legislation has eroded public confidence in the electoral process.

“The incredible voter apathy in these polls is a direct response to the anti-people Electoral Act 2026, where the people have completely lost faith in the electoral outcomes from elections conducted under this Act,” the statement said.

The party warned that the conduct of the FCT council elections could foreshadow challenges in the 2027 general elections if urgent reforms are not undertaken.

“These Local Council polls may just be a preview of the forthcoming general elections in 2027, if changes are not urgently made,” the PDP stated.