The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chairmanship candidate for Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Zadna Dantani, has withdrawn from the race and declared support for the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Christopher Zakka Maikalangu, just days before the Federal Capital Territory Area Council elections.
Dantani’s withdrawal, announced on Thursday, comes less than 24 hours after a similar move in Bwari Area Council, where PDP candidate Julius Adamu stepped down in favour of APC’s Joshua Musa, signaling a growing wave of last-minute political realignments ahead of Saturday’s polls.
Speaking to supporters in a video circulated by the media aide to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Dantani said his decision followed the intervention of the FCT Minister, , whom he described as the party’s leader in the FCT.
He said the decision was taken in the spirit of unity and political brotherhood, rather than rivalry.
According to Dantani, he formally notified the of his withdrawal ahead of the February 21 election and called on his supporters across all 12 wards in AMAC to vote for Maikalangu.
In his official withdrawal letter, dated February 18, 2026, Dantani stated that the decision was voluntary and followed consultations with his family and political stakeholders.
The development has further highlighted the growing political influence of Wike in the FCT since his appointment as minister in 2023. Although a member of the PDP, Wike has repeatedly backed initiatives and candidates aligned with the ruling APC, a stance that has drawn criticism from within his party.
However, the former Rivers State governor has defended his actions, insisting that the recent defections and withdrawals reflect deeper internal challenges within the PDP.
The AMAC race is one of six chairmanship contests scheduled across the FCT, alongside elections in Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje, Abaji, and Kwali Area Councils. Voters across the territory will elect six chairmen and 62 councillors in what is expected to be a keenly contested local government poll.
The fixed February 21, 2026, for the elections, with campaigns officially ending on February 19.
Dantani’s withdrawal marks one of the most significant last-minute shifts in the political landscape of the FCT elections, raising fresh questions about party cohesion within the PDP and the strategic consolidation of power by the APC in the territory.
