By Ayomide Otitoju
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has congratulated its candidates who emerged victorious in Saturday’s Area Council elections in the Federal Capital Territory, while indicating plans to challenge what it described as widespread irregularities during the polls.
In a statement issued on Sunday and signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, the party said its victories, though fewer than anticipated, were significant in view of what it termed “unprecedented intimidation, high-powered money politics and brazen executive brigandage.”
The PDP alleged that reports and video footage showed armed security personnel carting away result sheets from polling units, intimidating voters and unduly influencing the outcome of the elections.
Despite the concerns, the party congratulated Mohammed Kasim, who was declared Chairman-elect of Gwagwalada Area Council, as well as its councillorship candidates returned elected by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
To address its grievances, the party announced the inauguration of a special legal team headed by its National Legal Adviser, Shafi Bara’u. The team has been mandated to attend to candidates with what the PDP described as genuine complaints and to handle post-election litigation.
The party urged affected candidates to promptly contact the National Legal Adviser, warning that delays could jeopardise their cases in election petition proceedings.
The PDP also blamed what it described as “incredible voter apathy” on the Electoral Act 2026, arguing that many Nigerians have lost confidence in elections conducted under the current legal framework.
It cautioned that the conduct of the Area Council polls could signal potential challenges in the 2027 general elections if urgent reforms are not undertaken, and called on the National Assembly and the President to take steps to safeguard the country’s democracy.
