The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has strongly condemned the withdrawal of some of its chairmanship candidates from the forthcoming Abuja Area Council elections, describing the development as shameful, anti-democratic and carried out without the party’s consent.
In a statement issued on Friday by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Ini Ememobong, the PDP said it received news of the withdrawals “with utter dismay,” insisting that the action undermines democratic principles and the party’s internal processes.
The party maintained that democracy thrives on open and competitive electoral contests, not what it termed “forced or induced consensus.” It alleged that the withdrawals reflect a troubling pattern in the lead-up to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) local council polls.
According to the statement, certain individuals allegedly parading themselves as leaders of the party were attempting to compromise the PDP’s independence for the benefit of the President.
The NWC further claimed that the withdrawals formed part of a broader agenda to weaken opposition structures within the party ahead of future elections, particularly the 2027 general elections.
The PDP noted that actions such as these were among the reasons some of the affected individuals had previously been expelled from the party, as part of ongoing efforts to rebuild a formidable opposition platform capable of challenging for power in 2027.
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“As sad as this development is, it is a pointer to the type of voodoo democracy promoted by those parading as leaders of the PDP, whose only interest is to ‘hold’ the party for the President,” the statement read.
The party further alleged that such tactics, if unchecked, could be replicated at the national level.
“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,” the statement added.
The condemnation comes amid heightened political maneuvering ahead of the Abuja Area Council elections, with reports of realignments and candidate withdrawals reshaping the contest in some councils.
The PDP’s NWC insisted that it remains committed to upholding internal democracy and providing a credible opposition platform, vowing not to allow what it described as external interference or internal sabotage to derail its participation in the FCT polls.
The party called on its members and supporters to remain steadfast, assuring them that it would take necessary steps to defend its structures and preserve democratic competition in the upcoming elections.