Politics
Again, PDP candidate dumps race, backs APC ahead of FCT polls
The Peoples Democratic Party chairmanship candidate for Abuja Municipal Area Council, Zadna Dantani, has withdrawn from the race and thrown his weight behind the All Progressives Congress candidate, Christopher Maikalangu, in a surprising move just days before the Federal Capital Territory Area Council elections scheduled for Saturday.
Dantani stepped down on Thursday, less than 24 hours after the PDP chairmanship candidate for Bwari Area Council, Julius Adamu, also withdrew from the contest to support the APC candidate, Joshua Musa.
Speaking to his supporters, Dantani said his decision followed the intervention of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
In a video sent to our correspondent by the media aide to Wike, Lere Olayinka, Dantani said, “My name is Hon. Zadna Dantani, the Chairmanship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the Abuja Municipal Area Council for Saturday’s Area Council elections.
“I want to sincerely appreciate everyone who supported us and by the grace of God, we are doing it, not because of our personal interests.
“I am here to tell my people that as a candidate who is standing for this election, I have today, agreed based on the intervention of the Honourable Minister of FCT, Barrister Nyesom Wike, who is our leader in the party and the leader in FCT, who has called my attention to let us know that this is a brotherhood election. I am also doing this in support of the good works of President Bola Tinubu.”
He described the election as one rooted in unity rather than rivalry.
Dantani confirmed that he had formally communicated his decision to the Independent National Electoral Commission, submitting a letter of withdrawal ahead of the February 21, 2026, election.
“I have consulted widely, and by the grace of God, we have agreed that we are no longer going to contest against my brother, Hon Christopher Zakka Maikalangu.
“By doing so, I also submitted a letter of withdrawal to the Independent National Electoral Commission.
“I therefore call on all my supporters across the 12 wards in the Abuja Municipal Area Council to come out enmasse to support Hon Christopher Maikalangu, who is the candidate of APC,” he noted.
In the letter addressed to INEC on February 18, 2025 and sighted by our correspondent, he wrote, “I write to respectfully inform you that I, Hon. Zadna Dantani of Gosa Village along Airport Road FCT Abuja, a member and the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, have decided to voluntarily withdraw from contesting for the Chairmanship position of Abuja Municipal Area Council, in the forthcoming Area Council Elections which is scheduled to hold on 21st February, 2026, after due other consideration and thorough consultation with my Family and relevant stakeholders.
“I wish to state unequivocally that this decision to withdraw my candidature is borne out of my own free will. Accept the assurances of my warm regards, please.”
The AMAC contest is one of six chairmanship elections scheduled across the FCT.
Voters in Abuja Municipal Area Council, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje, Abaji and Kwali will head to the polls to elect chairmen and councillors.
The Independent National Electoral Commission fixed February 21, 2026, as the date for the Area Council elections.
Campaigns began in September 2025 and are set to conclude on February 19. In total, 68 positions are up for grabs, including six chairmanship seats and 62 councillorship positions.
Wike’s visible role in the negotiations reflects his continued influence in FCT politics since his appointment as minister in 2023. The former Rivers State governor, though still a member of the PDP, has frequently supported initiatives and candidates associated with the ruling APC.
His stance has drawn criticism from some within his party, who accuse him of anti-party activities and aligning with the APC’s political agenda.
Wike, however, has maintained that recent defections from the PDP to the APC validate his position that the opposition party is grappling with internal difficulties.
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