photo: FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike
By Deborah Nnamdi
In a dramatic political shift less than 72 hours before the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chairmanship candidate for Bwari Area Council, Julius Adamu, has withdrawn from the race and endorsed the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Joshua Ishaku Musa.
The move followed the direct intervention of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and was finalized on Wednesday during a bipartisan stakeholders’ meeting in Bwari Area Council.
The announcement effectively narrows the contest for the Bwari chairmanship seat ahead of the February 21 polls, reshaping the political landscape in what had been considered one of the most competitive races.
Addressing supporters and party stakeholders, Adamu said his decision came after “deep consultation” with the FCT Minister. He described the withdrawal as a step taken in the interest of unity and local harmony, citing his personal relationship with the APC candidate.
According to him, it would not be appropriate for “two brothers to fight over one office,” as he publicly declared his support for Musa and urged his supporters to rally behind the APC candidate in the upcoming election.
Wike, widely seen as playing a kingmaker role in FCT politics, openly backed the new alliance at the meeting. He called on Bwari residents to support Musa, linking the candidate’s potential victory to accelerated infrastructure development in the area, particularly road construction projects.
The development comes as the Independent National Electoral Commission concludes preparations for elections across the six Area Councils—Abuja Municipal (AMAC), Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje, Abaji, and Kwali.
The Bwari contest had been viewed as a crucial battleground, but the cross-party pact has significantly altered the electoral calculations in favour of the APC. The alliance further highlights Wike’s ongoing strategy of fostering cooperation between elements of the PDP and the ruling APC, a dynamic that continues to shape the political landscape of the FCT under his leadership.
