PDP Cries Foul, Heads To Court as APC Sweeps FCT Polls Amid Vote-Buying, Low Turnout Claims

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has set up a special legal team to challenge the outcome of Saturday’s Area Council elections in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), following a dominant showing by the All Progressives Congress (APC).

According to results released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the APC won five of the six chairmanship seats, Abuja Municipal (AMAC), Abaji, Bwari, Kwali and Kuje while the PDP secured only Gwagwalada.

PDP spokesperson Ini Ememobong alleged widespread irregularities, including intimidation, vote-buying and the use of security personnel to interfere with result sheets. The party described the exercise as flawed and warned that the outcome could foreshadow deeper issues ahead of the 2027 general elections. The PDP’s legal challenge will be led by its National Legal Adviser, Shafi Bara’u.

INEC, however, dismissed claims that voters were unlawfully moved to new polling units, clarifying that only “split units” were created in crowded locations to ease congestion. The commission said over 239,000 voters about 15 per cent of the 1.68 million registered voters participated, an improvement from 9.4 per cent turnout in 2022.

Despite concerns over voter apathy and allegations of misconduct, INEC maintained that the election reflected continued public confidence in the democratic process.