FCT polls: Turaki-led PDP kicks over withdrawal of candidates for APC

The Tanimu Turaki-led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Friday expressed its disgust over the decision of two of the party’s candidates to withdraw from Saturday’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area 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”, the camp stated in a reaction by the National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Ini Ememobong, in Abuja.

Two PDP candidates dramatically announced their withdrawal from the polls, fixed for Saturday, February 22, saying they stepped down for their All Progressives Congress (APC) opponents in the spirit of peace and unity in the FCT.

One of them, Mr Julius Adamu, the candidate for Bwari Area Council chairmanship, withdrew on February 17-18, endorsing APC’s Joshua Ishaku Musa after consultations involving the FCT Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike.

Soon, Mr Zadna Dantani, the PDP candidate for Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) chairmanship, also stepped down and declared backing for APC’s Christopher Zakka Maikalangu.

He too cited Wike’s influence in his decision as he submitted a formal letter of withdrawal to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

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However, the Turaki-led National Working Committee (NWC), while condemning the act, blamed it on what the camp called “voodoo democracy” practised by some persons, noting that the whole idea was to hold down the PDP for the ruling APC.

It said, “As sad as this development is, it 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.

“Furthermore, voters should 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.”