The National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said it received with utter dismay the news of the withdrawal or stepping down of some chairmanship candidates of the party from the forthcoming Abuja Local Council elections.

“This action is anti-democratic in every sense and is hereby totally condemned by the party,” PDP said, in a statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Ini Ememobong, on Friday.

The party pointed out that 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.

It said the sad development is a pointer to the type of voodoo democracy promoted by those parading as leaders of the PDP, whose only interest is to hold the party for the President.

“This is 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.

“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,” PDP said.

The party urged 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.

The Guardian reported that two chairmanship candidates of the PDP stepped down in separate FCT councils to endorse candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

In the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), PDP candidate Hon. Zadna Dantani formally withdrew from the race and threw his weight behind the incumbent APC candidate, Hon. Christopher Zakka Maikalangu.

Dantani said his decision followed extensive consultations with party stakeholders and the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, whom he described as the PDP’s leader in the FCT.

He confirmed submitting a formal letter of withdrawal to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), maintaining that his decision was voluntary and reached after careful consideration.

He subsequently directed his supporters across AMAC’s 12 wards to mobilise for the APC candidate, citing the need for unity and alignment with ongoing development initiatives in the FCT.

A similar development unfolded in Bwari Area Council, where PDP chairmanship candidate Julius Adamu stepped aside in favour of the APC flagbearer, Joshua Ishaku Musa. (Guardian)