By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa
The faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) loyal to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and often referred to as the Turaki faction, has inaugurated a special legal team to handle election petitions arising from the February 21, 2026, Area Council elections in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The move comes as the opposition party, despite suffering a heavy defeat in the polls, formally congratulated its candidates who emerged victorious in the chairmanship and councillorship elections.
Saturday’s elections were held across all six FCT area councils—Abaji, AMAC, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje, and Kwali. Results announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) show the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) sweeping victories in Abaji, Kwali, AMAC, Bwari, and Kuje, while the PDP managed to secure only Gwagwalada Area Council.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, acknowledged the victories, noting that while the number of wins was lower than anticipated, the Gwagwalada outcome was significant given the alleged irregularities during the polls.
“We specifically congratulate the Chairman-elect of Gwagwalada Area Council, Mohammed Kasim, and the councillors who have been declared successful by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC),” the statement read.
“This victory, though less in number than we anticipated, is particularly gladdening because it is against the background of unprecedented intimidation, high-powered money politics, and brazen executive brigandage.”
Ememobong further alleged that there were reports and video evidence indicating voter intimidation and unlawful conduct that influenced the outcome of the elections.
“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,” he claimed.
To address complaints and litigations arising from the polls, the party has set up a legal team headed by its National Legal Adviser, Shafi Bara’u, Esq. The statement urged candidates with legitimate grievances to contact the Legal Adviser promptly, warning that delays could jeopardise their chances in election petition cases.
The party also used the opportunity to criticise the Electoral Act 2026, linking voter apathy to a loss of 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 added.
“These Local Council polls may just be a foreshadowing of the forthcoming general elections in 2027 if changes are not urgently made.”
The PDP called on the National Assembly and the President to take immediate corrective action to safeguard the integrity of Nigeria’s democracy.
