PDP Faces Disqualification Threat Ahead of FCT Area Council Polls
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may face total disqualification from the forthcoming Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) released its final list of candidates, excluding the Labour Party (LP) entirely from the contest.
The Area Council elections are scheduled to hold on February 21, 2026, across the six councils in the FCT.
PDP at Risk Over Internal Leadership Crisis
The PDP’s participation in the FCT poll is under serious threat following unresolved leadership disputes within the party. Reports indicate that rival factions conducted parallel primaries, raising concerns over the legitimacy of the candidates submitted to INEC.
Legal experts warn that if the courts rule against the faction that conducted the recognised primaries, all PDP candidates — including chairmanship, vice-chairmanship and councillorship aspirants — could be disqualified.
The crisis is believed to be linked to a prolonged power struggle involving party stakeholders aligned with different political interests within the FCT.
INEC Excludes Labour Party from Final List
In a major development, INEC excluded the Labour Party from the final list of candidates, making it the only registered political party without cleared nominees for the FCT elections.
According to INEC, the exclusion followed the commission’s refusal to recognise the leadership faction that submitted the party’s candidates, citing unresolved internal disputes and questions over the legitimacy of its national officers.
Labour Party Leadership Tussle Deepens Crisis
The Labour Party has been embroiled in a fierce leadership battle between factions loyal to Julius Abure and another group reportedly backed by prominent party figures.
INEC maintained that it would only engage with party leaderships recognised under the law, despite court orders directing the commission to allow the Labour Party upload its candidates for the election.
Concerns Over Electoral Competition in FCT
Political analysts and civil society groups have expressed concerns that the exclusion of major opposition parties could weaken electoral competition and discourage voter participation in the FCT Area Council polls.
They warn that continued internal crises within political parties may undermine democratic processes at the grassroots level in the nation’s capital.
What This Means for the FCT Elections
With the elections drawing closer, uncertainty now surrounds the participation of major political parties. While court cases are still ongoing, the final outcome may significantly reshape the political landscape of the FCT councils.
INEC has yet to indicate whether further changes will be made to the candidates’ list pending court rulings.
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