JUST IN: PDP Breaks Silence Over Withdrawal of Candidates Ahead of FCT Elections

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has expressed strong condemnation over the withdrawal of some of its chairmanship candidates from the forthcoming Abuja Local Council elections, describing the move as “shameful” and taken without the party’s consent.

In a press statement released on Friday, Comrade Ini Ememobong, National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, said the action is “anti-democratic in every sense” and warned that such forced withdrawals undermine healthy electoral contests.

“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 party said.

According to the PDP, the development reflects a “voodoo democracy” promoted by individuals within the party whose sole interest is to maintain control for the President.

The party added that such actions, if allowed close to the presidential elections, could compel other candidates to step down, ensuring a smooth path for the President to return to office despite what it called the “abysmal performance” of his administration.

It added, “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, to rebuild a strong opposition party, prepared for a struggle to return to power by 2027,” the statement read.

The PDP also urged voters to protect their votes and ensure that presiding officers transmit Form EC8A immediately after announcing results at polling units.