PDP and Labour Party face setbacks ahead of FCT council elections
Three major parties are facing turmoil ahead of the Federal Capital Territory Area Council elections. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) risks disqualification due to unresolved leadership disputes, while the Labour Party (LP) has been excluded from the polls entirely. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released a final list of candidates, with only the LP missing. Leadership crises and court battles have thrown both parties’ participation into uncertainty.
Key takeaways
- Seventy-four PDP candidates could be disqualified from the FCT Area Council elections due to internal leadership crises.
- The Labour Party was excluded from the polls after failing to present candidates on the final list released by INEC on September 22, 2025.
- The FCT elections are scheduled for February 21, 2026, with 68 positions up for grabs across six councils.
- The PDP faces a legal battle between factions led by Tanimu Turaki and Abdulrahman Mohammed, with court cases and suspensions ongoing.
- Legal experts warn that if the courts rule against the PDP’s leadership, all its nominations could be nullified, echoing similar incidents in the 2019 general elections.
