FCT Elections: Legal Storms Hang Over PDP as Labour Party Misses Out

Seventy-four candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) contesting the forthcoming Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections are facing possible disqualification following unresolved leadership crises within the party, raising fresh concerns about the competitiveness of the February 21, 2026 polls. The situation is further complicated by the complete exclusion of the Labour Party (LP) from the election, after it failed to present any candidate on the final list released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

INEC’s final list of candidates, published on September 22, 2025, shows that out of the 16 registered political parties in Nigeria, the Labour Party is the only one without a single cleared candidate for the FCT elections. The development has sparked debate among political observers and civil society groups about internal party democracy, legal compliance, and the broader implications for voter participation in the nation’s capital.

INEC’s Final List and the Stakes in the FCT Elections

The FCT Area Council elections will determine leadership across 68 elective positions, comprising six chairmanship seats and 62 councillorship positions in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje, Abaji, and Kwali. These grassroots positions are widely regarded as critical to local governance and service delivery in the rapidly growing federal capital.

INEC documents indicate that while several parties successfully scaled the nomination and screening process, the Labour Party was unable to do so due to unresolved internal disputes. As a result, the party has been shut out entirely, leaving its supporters without direct representation on the ballot.

Political analysts note that the absence of a major opposition party such as the LP, alongside uncertainty surrounding the PDP, could significantly reshape the electoral landscape in the FCT. Concerns are growing that the contest may tilt heavily in favour of the ruling party if opposition challenges are not resolved before election day.

Labour Party Crisis and INEC’s Position

The Labour Party’s exclusion stems from a prolonged leadership tussle between the Julius Abure-led faction and the Nenadi Usman-led National Caretaker Committee, which is backed by the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and Abia State Governor, Alex Otti. The dispute has divided the party’s national structure and created uncertainty over who is legally authorised to act on its behalf.

INEC has refused to recognise the national convention held in Nnewi, which re-elected Abure as national chairman, maintaining that his tenure had expired. Although a court order reportedly directed the commission to issue access codes to enable the party upload its candidates, INEC has insisted that it can only transact with party officials recognised by law.

This position effectively left the Labour Party unable to complete its nomination process for the FCT elections. As of the deadline, no LP candidates were cleared, marking a significant setback for the party in a territory where it had recorded notable support in recent national elections.

PDP Leadership Dispute and Legal Risks

Within the PDP, a separate but equally complex leadership crisis is unfolding. The dispute pits a faction led by former Minister of Special Duties, Tanimu Turaki—elected national chairman at a controversial convention held in Ibadan on November 15 and 16—against another faction led by Abdulrahman Mohammed, which is backed by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.

Both factions have issued suspensions against rival leaders and filed multiple lawsuits over control of the party’s national and FCT structures. Despite these internal battles, the PDP submitted a full slate of 74 candidates for the FCT elections, covering 12 chairmanship and vice-chairmanship positions and 62 councillorship seats.

Legal experts, however, warn that these nominations could be invalidated if the courts eventually rule that the faction which conducted the PDP primaries lacked legal authority. Such a decision would nullify all candidacies arising from those primaries, effectively wiping the PDP off the ballot in the FCT.

Implications for Democracy and Voter Participation

Observers have drawn parallels with past precedents, including the 2019 general elections, when the Supreme Court voided the votes of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Zamfara State and the PDP in Rivers State over irregularities in their nomination processes. A similar outcome in the FCT would have far-reaching political consequences.

Commenting on the situation, Chairman of the Transition Monitoring Group, Auwal Rafsanjani, warned that the exclusion or disqualification of major opposition parties could lead to voter apathy and a less competitive election. He stressed that unresolved internal party conflicts risk narrowing voter choice and weakening democratic participation.

Rafsanjani urged political parties to adhere strictly to legal and constitutional requirements, warning that failure to do so could inadvertently strengthen the ruling party and undermine the credibility of the electoral process in the nation’s capital.