The Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) has inaugurated a special legal team to challenge the results of Saturday’s election held across the Area Councils of the Federal Capital Territory.
Five of the six chairmanship posts in the council elections were won by All Progressives Congress candidates, according to the Independent National Electoral Commission.
The PDP won the chairperson post in Gwagwalada, while the APC won the Abuja Municipal Area Council, Abaji, Bwari, Kwali, and Kuje.
Vote-buying and general voter apathy plagued the process, which was held to fill 62 councillor and six chairmanship seats.
The party congratulated its victorious candidates but accused them of irregularities in a statement released on Sunday by its National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong.
PDP urged aggrieved candidates to take swift action and said that Shafi Bara’u, Esq., its National Legal Adviser, would lead its legal team.
“We specifically congratulate the chairman-elect of Gwagwalada Area Council, Mohammed Kasim, and the councillors who have been declared successful by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
“This victory, though less in number than we anticipated, is particularly gladdening because it is against the background of unprecedented intimidation, high-powered money politics and brazen executive brigandage,” the statement read.
Additionally, Ememobong alleged misconduct during the polls.
“Reports and video evidence abound where armed security personnel were used to cart away result sheets at polling units, intimidate voters and unduly influence the outcome of the elections.”
The statement added, “The incredible voter apathy in these polls is a direct response to the anti-people Electoral Act 2026, where the people have completely lost faith in electoral outcomes conducted under this Act.
“These local council polls may just be a foreshadowing of the forthcoming general elections in 2027 if changes are not urgently made” it added.
