FCT poll: PDP heads to court over APC’s five-council victory

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has set up a special legal team to challenge the outcome of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections, after the All Progressives Congress (APC) secured five of the six chairmanship seats.

Results released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) showed that the APC won Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Abaji, Bwari, Kwali and Kuje, while the PDP claimed victory in Gwagwalada.

In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, the PDP congratulated its winners but alleged widespread irregularities, including intimidation of voters, vote-buying and interference by security personnel.

The party said its legal challenge would be led by its National Legal Adviser, Shafi Bara’u, urging aggrieved candidates to promptly pursue redress through the courts. PDP described its Gwagwalada victory — where Mohammed Kasim defeated the APC candidate — as significant despite what it called “unprecedented intimidation and money politics.”

According to INEC figures, Christopher Maikalangu of the APC was re-elected in AMAC with 40,295 votes, while APC candidates also emerged winners in Bwari, Abaji, Kwali and Kuje. The PDP’s lone win came in Gwagwalada, where Kasim polled 22,165 votes.

INEC said over 239,000 voters participated in the elections, representing about 15 per cent of the 1.68 million registered voters. The commission denied claims that voters were moved to new polling units, explaining that what occurred was the creation of split polling units in congested areas to ease voting.

The commission added that text messages and emails were sent to affected voters ahead of the polls to help them identify their correct polling locations, noting that more than 93 per cent of polling unit results had been uploaded to its Result Viewing Portal.

While acknowledging voter apathy, INEC said turnout improved compared to the 2022 council elections.

Meanwhile, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) announced the arrest of 20 suspects for alleged electoral offences during the polls. The agency said offences ranged from vote buying and vote selling to obstruction of law enforcement.

EFCC spokesman Dele Oyewale disclosed that operatives recovered over N17m from suspects, including N13.5m found inside a vehicle near a polling unit in Kwali. Arrests were made across Abaji, Gwagwalada, Kuje and Kwali, with the commission saying the suspects would be charged after investigations.

The PDP maintained that the outcome of the FCT elections could foreshadow the 2027 general elections if concerns about the electoral process are not addressed.