The political landscape of the Federal Capital Territory was thrown into a new spin on Wednesday as the Peoples Democratic Party chairmanship candidate for the Bwari Area Council, Julius Adamu, withdrew from the race in favour of the All Progressives Congress candidate, Joshua Musa.
The dramatic stand-down, which took place in Bwari, was marked by the conspicuous presence of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, underscoring his towering influence in the territory’s politics just days before the February 21 council elections.
A video of the event shared by Agbagyisha TV on Facebook captured the moment Adamu publicly declared he would no longer contest the seat and urged his supporters to back the APC candidate.
Addressing the crowd, Wike did not mince words about his role in the negotiation. “We have agreed that he will stand down for Joshua,” the minister stated.
Adamu framed his exit from the race as a decision born out of “deep consultation” with Wike. He emphasized that he and Musa were “brothers,” adding that it would “not be nice for two brothers to kill themselves over one business.”
“As such, I have relinquished my support to Honourable Joshua. And I want to urge you all to support him to become chairman of Bwari Area Council,” Adamu told his supporters.
The Bwari contest had been one of the most closely watched in the FCT, with both the PDP and APC vying for control of the council. The race gained further intensity days ago when the Supreme Court affirmed Musa as the valid APC chairmanship candidate following a period of legal wrangling.
Wike’s involvement in what is effectively a cross-party transfer of support has raised eyebrows across the territory. Since his appointment as minister in 2023, the former Rivers State governor has frequently found himself at odds with elements of his own party, the PDP, while offering open support for ruling party projects and candidates.
Although still officially a PDP member, Wike has publicly argued that mass defections from the PDP to the APC vindicate his stance that the opposition party is struggling with internal challenges. Critics, however, have accused him of engaging in anti-party activities and aligning with the APC’s political agenda.
With the FCT Area Council elections just days away, voters in the six councils—Abuja Municipal Area Council, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje, Abaji and Kwali—will now watch to see if Wike’s political influence can translate into votes for the APC in a region where the PDP has traditionally been strong.
The Independent National Electoral Commission has fixed February 21 for the election, which will decide 68 positions, including six chairmen and 62 councillorship seats across the territory.
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