By Peter Dansu The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is facing mounting pressure to cancel the recently concluded primary elections i...
By Peter Dansu
The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is facing mounting pressure to cancel the recently concluded primary elections in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), as outrage continues to grow over alleged hijacking of the party structure and imposition of favoured candidates across the six area councils.
The primaries, held on Wednesday, June 25, have sparked widespread protests and unrest among party faithful, who accuse the APC leadership of ignoring earlier warnings and sidelining loyal, long-standing members in favour of defectors from the opposition.
Despite days of protests at the APC National Secretariat in Abuja by aggrieved stakeholders, the party went ahead with the primaries. However, the internal process appears to have deepened existing divisions within the party, with many members now threatening to vote against the APC in the upcoming FCT Council elections slated for February 2026.
In a dramatic twist, the APC leader in the FCT and Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Chief Zephaniah Jisalo, stormed the party’s headquarters mid-election on Wednesday, visibly furious. According to aides, Jisalo was livid over what he described as the hijacking of the party’s internal machinery and lack of consultation.
With the National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, away on an official visit to Nasarawa State with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Minister Jisalo met behind closed doors with the party’s National Organizing Secretary, Alhaji Sulaiman Muhammed Argungu, for over an hour.
Sources at the meeting revealed that Alhaji Argungu attempted to calm the minister, advising him to assert his authority as FCT party leader rather than appear sidelined. At the heart of the minister’s frustration, insiders say, is the party’s preference for new entrants from the opposition—particularly the PDP—over grassroots APC loyalists.
Following the meeting, Chief Jisalo declined to address the allegations directly when approached by journalists. However, he promised to make a formal statement after the primaries.
One of the most controversial outcomes of the primaries was in the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), where serving PDP Chairman, Christopher Zakka Maikalangu—now in APC—emerged victorious with 51 votes, securing the party’s chairmanship ticket. The announcement was made by the electoral committee chairman, Dr. Habib Ibrahim, who called on aggrieved aspirants to accept the outcome and rally behind the winners.
Maikalangu, in his acceptance speech, thanked delegates for their support and extended an olive branch to his opponents, urging them to unite for the party’s success.
Elsewhere in the FCT, candidates reportedly backed by Minister Nyesom Wike performed strongly, particularly in councils like Kuje, Kwali, Gwagwalada, Abaji, and Bwari, where consensus candidates emerged with solid backing. Wike has vowed to secure APC control of all six FCT area councils in the 2026 polls.
Meanwhile, the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) also concluded its primaries across the FCT’s area councils, with results revealing keen contests in some areas and consensus in others.
In Kwali, Harruna Mohammed narrowly won with 13 votes, beating Daniel Ibrahim (11 votes) and Shashim Zaka (6 votes).
Gwagwalada saw Kasim Mohammed defeat Rabiu Adamu with 19 to 11 votes.
Bwari had the most competitive race, with Julius Adamu clinching victory with 19 votes, far ahead of his closest rival, Bitrus Jibada, who managed 6.
Abaji produced a consensus candidate as Musa Biliyanmu was unanimously endorsed by all 30 delegates.
In AMAC, Zadna Dintani emerged PDP flag bearer with 24 votes, defeating William Gaje, who scored 12.
Kuje saw Zacharia Danlami, an ally of the outgoing chairman, go unopposed after Michael Jigu withdrew, securing all 30 votes.
With tensions running high and party unity in jeopardy, political observers say the APC leadership has a short window to address grievances before the February 2026 elections. Calls are growing louder for a fresh, transparent process—or risk losing ground in the FCT to a resurgent opposition.
No comments