FCT Poll: We didn’t approve stepping down of our candidates – PDP
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described as shameful the stepping down of two of its Chairmanship candidates for the Saturday Federal Capital Territory, election, saying the act was done without the consent of the party. Ahead of the Saturday poll, the PDP Chairmanship candidates for the Abuja Municipal Area Council, AMAC and Bwari area councils […]
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described as shameful the stepping down of two of its Chairmanship candidates for the Saturday Federal Capital Territory, election, saying the act was done without the consent of the party.
Ahead of the Saturday poll, the PDP Chairmanship candidates for the Abuja Municipal Area Council, AMAC and Bwari area councils stepped down for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in a deal brokered by the FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.
Apparently, referring to the FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, the party alleged that the move was orchestrated by those parading themselves “as leaders of the PDP, whose only interest is to ‘hold’ the party for the President.”
The party, which asked Nigerians to be vigilant, added that what is happening is what is being planned for the 2027 general elections where they will compel, induce and cajole all the other candidates to step down or withdraw for the President to have a smooth sail back to the Presidential Villa.
Comrade Ini Ememobong, National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, said it was because of situations like this that the party expelled some of its members to allow them build a strong political party that will provide a robust opposition ahead of the next election.
Part of the statement said the National Working Committee of the Party received with utter dismay the news of the withdrawal or stepping down of some Chairmanship Candidates of our Party from the forthcoming Abuja Local Council elections.
“This action is anti-democratic in every sense and is hereby totally condemned by the Party. Democracy thrives on healthy electoral contests, not forced or induced melodramatic consensus, as currently witnessed in the build-up to the FCT local council elections.”
“This is a exactly what they intended to do to Nigerians, when close to the Presidential elections, they can compel, induce or cajole all the other candidates to step down or withdraw for the President to have a smooth sail back to Aso Rock Villa, despite the abysmal performance of his administration.”
The party added that it “was for ignoble, reckless and shameless acts like these that we excommunicated them from our party, in order to rebuild a strong opposition party, prepared for a struggle to return to power by 2027.”
The PDP further called on voters to go to the polls prepared to protect their votes and ensure that Presiding Officers transmit Form EC8A immediately after announcing the result at the polling unit.