The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has suffered another major blow in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) ahead of Saturday’s Area Council elections, with its chairmanship candidate for Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) stepping down to support his All Progressives Congress (APC) counterpart.
Hon. Zadna Dantani announced his withdrawal from the race on Thursday, throwing his weight behind the APC candidate, Hon. Christopher Zakka Maikalangu. The move comes barely 48 hours to the poll and follows a similar decision in Bwari Area Council, where PDP’s Julius Adamu stepped down for APC’s Joshua Ishaku Musa on Wednesday.
In a formal declaration, Dantani said his decision followed high-level interventions by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, whom he described as the leader of the party and the FCT.
“My name is Hon. Zadna Dantani, the Chairmanship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Abuja Municipal Area Council for Saturday’s Area Council elections. I want to sincerely appreciate everyone who supported us, and by the grace of God, we are doing it not because of our personal interests,” Dantani stated.
He said the minister’s counsel emphasised the spirit of brotherhood required for the local elections.
“I am here to tell my people that as a candidate who is standing for this election, I have today agreed, based on the intervention of the Honourable Minister of FCT, Barrister Nyesom Wike, who is our leader in the party and the leader in FCT, who has called my attention to let us know that this is a brotherhood election. I am also doing this in support of the good works of the President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” Dantani added.
The former candidate confirmed that he had fulfilled all legal requirements for his exit from the race, including submitting a formal withdrawal letter to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“I have consulted widely, and by the grace of God, we have agreed that we are no longer going to contest against my brother, Hon Christopher Zakka Maikalangu. By doing so, I also submitted a letter of withdrawal to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) today,” he said.
He urged his supporters across AMAC’s 12 wards to vote en masse for the APC candidate.
In his official correspondence to INEC, Dantani insisted the move was entirely voluntary.
The letter read: “I write to respectfully inform you that I, Hon. Zadna Dantani of Gosa Village along Airport Road, FCT Abuja, a member and the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), have decided to voluntarily withdraw from contesting for the Chairmanship position of Abuja Municipal Area Council in the forthcoming Area Council Elections, which is scheduled to hold on 21st February, 2026, after due consideration and thorough consultation with my family and relevant stakeholders.
“I wish to state unequivocally that this decision to withdraw my candidature is borne out of my own free will and volition.”
The back-to-back withdrawals represent a significant boost for the APC in the FCT elections, with both area councils now appearing to favour the ruling party ahead of Saturday’s contest.