Three Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidates contesting National Assembly seats in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have withdrawn from the 2027 elections in support of their counterparts in the All Progressives Congress (APC), following a political arrangement coordinated by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.
The candidates announced their decisions on Monday in Abuja during a stakeholders’ meeting of the Rainbow Coalition, a cross-party alliance convened by Wike.
The PDP candidates are Gomna Stephen Gashe, who was seeking a seat representing Abaji, Gwagwalada, Kwali and Kuje; Ahmed Dogara Jacob, contesting the Municipal/Bwari constituency; and Angulu Bako, the party’s senatorial candidate.
Their APC counterparts are Danladi Chiya, Shekwogaza Gabaya and Philip Aduda, who are seeking seats in the House of Representatives and Senate, respectively.
Speaking at the meeting, Wike explained that he was prepared to allow the APC candidates to take all three seats in the FCT because President Bola Tinubu resides in the territory.
The minister said that, in his capacity as a national leader of the PDP, he would ordinarily have sought to retain at least one of the seats for his party. However, he argued that the President’s presence in the FCT influenced his decision to support the APC candidates.
Wike said he did not want to compete with Tinubu for the seats in the territory, although he expected to secure some political advantages for his camp in Rivers State.
He also described himself as the “commander of field operations” for Tinubu’s re-election campaign in the FCT and Rivers State, stressing that differences in party affiliation should not prevent politicians from working towards a shared presidential objective.
Following the announcement, the three PDP candidates publicly pledged their loyalty to Wike and promised to cooperate with him.
The development comes amid tensions between Wike and APC governors over the Rainbow Coalition, which brings together politicians from different parties to support Tinubu’s anticipated bid for a second term in 2027.
The APC governors have expressed reservations about political alliances that could weaken the party’s candidates or undermine its re-election strategy.
They have also warned against arrangements that could result in divided loyalties, competing interests or confusion within the ruling party.
The withdrawal of the FCT PDP candidates therefore highlights the political calculations surrounding the 2027 elections, as Wike continues to mobilise support for Tinubu across party lines despite remaining a member of the opposition PDP.
