Some aggrieved members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Monday stormed the party’s national secretariat in Abuja, urging national chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje to stop alleged attempts by agents of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to hijack the party’s structure ahead of the 2026 Area Council elections.
The protesting members, under the aegis of the APC Consolidation Group, accused new entrants—allegedly with ties to the PDP of marginalising loyal party stakeholders and manipulating internal processes to field preferred candidates.
Displaying placards with inscriptions such as “We don’t want Aduda, we don’t want PDP members,” and “Stop PDP agents from hijacking APC FCT election,” the protesters alleged that key PDP leaders were scheming to install their loyalists within the APC to clinch council seats in the forthcoming polls.
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.”
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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.
“These actions, if unchecked, will set a dangerous precedent — one that allows political turncoats and saboteurs to undermine our platform, frustrate long-serving loyal members, and turn APC into a safe haven for rejected opposition elements.”
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.”