FCT Polls: Another PDP candidate withdraws, urges support for APC flag bearer

Less than 24 hours after the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chairmanship candidate for Bwari Area Council, Julius Adamu, stepped down for the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Joshua Ishaku Musa, the PDP candidate for Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Hon. Zadna Dantani, has also withdrawn from the race in favour of the APC flag bearer, Hon. Christopher Zakka Maikalangu.

Dantani said his decision followed the intervention of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and confirmed that he has formally submitted a letter of withdrawal to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Addressing supporters, Dantani said his decision was taken after wide consultations and in what he described as the interest of party unity.

“I want to sincerely appreciate everyone who supported us… I am here to tell my people that as a candidate 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,” he said.

He added that his withdrawal was also in support of the policies of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and urged his supporters across the 12 wards in AMAC to back APC candidate Christopher Zakka Maikalangu in the forthcoming Area Council elections scheduled for February 21, 2026.

In his letter to INEC, Dantani stated that his decision to withdraw was voluntary and followed consultations with his family and stakeholders.

“I write to respectfully inform you that I, Hon. Zadna Dantani… have decided to voluntarily withdraw from contesting for the Chairmanship position of Abuja Municipal Area Council… This decision to withdraw my candidature is borne out of my own freewill volition,” the letter read.

The development marks another significant shift in the political dynamics of the FCT Area Council elections, coming shortly after a similar withdrawal in Bwari Area Council.