Members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have petitioned the party's national chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, alleging a plot by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to hijack the party's structure ahead of the 2026 Area Council elections.
The APC members claim that new entrants with ties to the PDP are marginalizing loyal party stakeholders and manipulating internal processes to field preferred candidates.
They accused two aspirants, Danjuma Samuel Shekwolo and Christopher Zakka Maikalangu, of not meeting the mandatory three-month membership requirement before contesting for elective office.
The petitioners, under the aegis of the APC Consolidation Group, urged Ganduje to disqualify the two aspirants, citing Article 20.1(iii) of the APC Constitution.
They expressed concerns that allowing these individuals to contest would set a dangerous precedent, undermining the party's integrity and creating a safe haven for "rejected opposition elements".
In a formal petition submitted to Ganduje and made available to reporters, the group called for the immediate disqualification of two aspirants—Danjuma Samuel Shekwolo and Christopher Zakka Maikalangu—whom they accused of being PDP loyalists attempting to subvert the APC’s internal democracy.
The petition stated, “We write as loyal, concerned, and committed stakeholders of our great party… deeply alarmed by the dangerous infiltration of the FCT APC by individuals who neither reflect our values nor meet the constitutional requirements for nomination.”
Citing Article 20.1(iii) of the APC Constitution, which requires at least three months of financial membership and fulfillment of all party obligations before any aspirant can contest for elective office, the group alleged a clear violation.
They noted, for instance, that Shekwolo was a delegate at the PDP Zonal Convention on May 24, 2025, and obtained APC nomination forms just 48 hours later, an act they described as “opportunistic carpet-crossing and deceit.”
The group urged the party’s leadership to act swiftly to preserve its integrity and ensure only genuine members are allowed to contest in the upcoming elections.
“Mr. Christopher Zakka Maikalangu, a sitting PDP Chairman of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), who is also reportedly contesting under the APC platform for another tenure, has not met the mandatory three-month membership requirement. His sudden entry into our party is strategically calculated and violates both the spirit and the letter of our constitution.
Speaking on the role of Senator Philip Aduda in undermining APC unity in FCT, the APC members in their petition said, “we further bring to your attention the alleged and troubling activities of former PDP Senate Minority Whip, Senator Philip Aduda, who has not only refused to publicly align with the APC but is actively working behind the scenes to install his loyalists in strategic Area Councils under our party.
“Information reaching us indicates that Senator Aduda is leveraging the name of the Honourable Minister of the FCT, His Excellency Nyesom Wike, to intimidate party executives and force the imposition of these aspirants. We find this not only deceptive but also dangerous, as it fuels political tension within the FCT.
“We want to categorically state that the Honourable Minister has not publicly endorsed any candidate, and therefore, Senator Aduda’s actions amount to blackmail, manipulation, and an abuse of political privilege.”
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