FCT Council Election 2026: ADC Faces Crucial Test as Wike Backs APC, PDP Candidates Step Down

Abuja’s political landscape is set for a defining moment as voters head to the polls for the 2026 Federal Capital Territory (FCT) area council elections, amid dramatic realignments involving Minister Nyesom Wike and opposition heavyweights.

Residents across Abaji, Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje and Kwali will elect new chairmen and councillors in what analysts describe as a significant test of strength for the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC).

ADC Coalition Under Spotlight

The election is widely seen as a litmus test for the ADC, bolstered by a coalition of opposition figures including Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar, who have been campaigning across Abuja, urging residents to reject the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Dr Moses Paul, ADC’s chairmanship candidate in AMAC, described his ambition as rooted in years of community engagement.

“Preparation for leadership does not begin a few days before an election. It is built over time through service and sacrifice,” he said, insisting he is ready to govern from day one.

He framed the contest as a referendum on accountability and competence, pledging cooperation with lawful authorities if elected — including the FCT administration — while maintaining loyalty to residents.

“Leadership is not about ego; it is about responsibility,” he added.

Wike’s High-Stakes Strategy

The political equation shifted after the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, openly declared support for candidates aligned with President Bola Tinubu, regardless of party affiliation.

Although still a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Wike has actively campaigned for APC candidates and made it clear he would work to block those who do not support the president’s agenda.

“I have a duty to support any candidate that supports President Tinubu to win,” he said, adding that he owed no one an apology for his stance.

His position has triggered political tremors within the PDP. The party’s chairmanship candidate in Bwari, Julius Adamu, stepped down in favour of APC’s Joshua Ishaku Musa. In AMAC, PDP candidate Hon. Zadna Dantani also withdrew, endorsing APC’s Christopher Zakka Maikalangu.

Party insiders say Wike played a central role in both decisions — moves that have effectively collapsed PDP campaigns into APC’s in key councils.

Voters Demand Results, Not Rhetoric

Across markets and neighbourhoods, voters voiced frustration with what they describe as years of unfulfilled promises.

“We are tired of leaders who come during campaigns and then disappear,” said Aisha Abdulkadir, a trader at Bwari market.

Joy Okon, who runs a provision shop in Dutse, said competence mattered more than party loyalty. “I just want someone who knows what they are doing.”

Others echoed concerns about infrastructure and security.

“We need good roads, water and security; we don’t want slogans,” said Emmanuel Chukwuemeka, a phone dealer.

For many civil servants and small business owners, the election is about performance, not personality.

Security Tightened Ahead of Poll

Authorities have imposed a 12-hour restriction on movement across Abuja from 6am to 6pm to ensure a smooth electoral process, according to the FCT Police Command.

The outcome could reshape grassroots politics in the capital and signal whether the ADC’s opposition coalition has real traction — or whether Wike’s cross-party manoeuvring will hand the APC a strategic advantage.

As ballots are cast, Abuja stands at the centre of a political contest that extends beyond area councils, reflecting deeper shifts within Nigeria’s party landscape.