The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has constituted a special legal team to handle petitions arising from the recent Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections, following the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) announcement of results.
In a statement on Tuesday, National Publicity Secretary Ini Ememobong confirmed the party’s move while congratulating its successful candidates. The statement noted that PDP Chairman-elect for Gwagwalada Area Council, Mohammed Kasim, and other victorious councillors were recognised by INEC.
The party’s legal team will be led by National Legal Adviser Shafi Bara’u, Esq. It is tasked with assessing “genuine complaints” from candidates and managing post-election litigation. The statement urged affected candidates to contact the legal adviser promptly, citing the time-sensitive nature of election petitions.
The PDP’s statement detailed alleged electoral malpractice, citing reports and video evidence of armed security personnel removing result sheets, intimidating voters, and influencing outcomes at polling units. It described the victory as “particularly gladdening” despite being fewer than anticipated, attributing the challenges to “unprecedented intimidation, high-powered money politics and brazen executive brigandage.”
Furthermore, the party linked low voter turnout to the Electoral Act 2022, claiming it has eroded public trust in electoral outcomes. It warned that the FCT council polls could foreshadow the 2027 general elections unless urgent amendments are made.
The statement concluded by calling on the National Assembly and the President to “correct the wrongdoing” to safeguard Nigeria’s democratic process, framing the local election as a critical indicator for national electoral integrity.
