The Turaki-led faction of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has officially rejected the reported withdrawal of its candidates in favor of the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) area council elections. At a press conference held on Thursday, February 19, 2026, the factional chairman, Kabiru Turaki, denounced the move as a “political sham” and a coordinated attempt to undermine the PDP’s presence in the nation’s capital. He insisted that those who claimed to withdraw were “mercenaries” and not the authentic, party-cleared candidates.
The political and legal consequence of this internal rift is a direct threat to the PDP’s ability to present a unified front in the FCT polls. Historically, the FCT has been a strategic battleground where local council results are often seen as a barometer for national sentiment. By contesting the legitimacy of these withdrawals, the Turaki faction is attempting to prevent an “electoral walkover” for the APC, which could significantly impact the local governance and resource allocation in the territory’s six area councils.
Analytically, the dispute centers on the authenticity of party leadership. The PDP has been plagued by fractionalization, with multiple groups claiming the right to submit candidate names to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Turaki argued that the purported “merger” or withdrawal agreement was orchestrated by a disgruntled group seeking to trade the party’s structures for personal gain. This legal ambiguity puts INEC in a difficult position, as it must now determine which list of candidates holds the legal “Certificate of Return” to remain on the ballot.
The impact on “Voter Confidence and Democratic Integrity” is a vital dimension of this outcry. Turaki warned that such “partisan sabotage” creates confusion among the electorate and fuels voter apathy. He urged PDP supporters in the FCT to ignore the rumors of a collapse into the APC and to remain steadfast. This defiance signals that the PDP is prepared for a protracted legal battle to protect its “umbrella” on the ballot, as any unauthorized withdrawal could be challenged under the Electoral Act 2026, which mandates strict personal consent for candidates to step down.
Furthermore, the factional leader called on the national leadership of the party and security agencies to investigate the “impersonation” of its candidates. He alleged that the APC is using “state machinery” to entice or intimidate opposition figures into abandoning their mandates. This rhetoric highlights the high stakes of the FCT elections, which serve as the final major test for the governing and opposition parties before the 2027 general elections.
The long-term outlook for the PDP in the FCT depends on its ability to resolve these leadership crises through the court system or internal reconciliation. If the Turaki-led faction fails to secure its candidates’ positions, the APC may gain an unprecedented sweep of the capital’s council seats. For now, the factional chairman maintains that the PDP remains the only credible alternative for FCT residents, promising that the “legal candidates” will fight for their mandates until the last vote is counted.
