The chairmanship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the Bwari Area Council election, Julius Adamu, has pulled out of the race and declared support for the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Joshua Musa, following the intervention of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
Adamu’s withdrawal was announced on Wednesday during a political gathering in Bwari attended by party supporters and key stakeholders. A video from the event showed the PDP candidate publicly stepping down and urging his followers to rally behind Musa.
Speaking at the event, Wike disclosed that discussions had been held, leading to Adamu’s decision to stand aside for the APC flagbearer.
In his address, Adamu described the move as the outcome of extensive consultations with the FCT minister. He referred to Musa as a “brother,” saying it would be unwise for both of them to engage in a fierce contest over the same position. He subsequently asked his supporters to vote for the APC candidate in the forthcoming poll.
The FCT Area Council elections are scheduled for February 21, 2026, with voters across the six councils—Abuja Municipal Area Council, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje, Abaji, and Kwali—set to elect chairmen and councillors. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) fixed the date after campaigns commenced in September 2025 and are due to conclude on February 19.
In total, 68 elective positions will be contested, comprising six chairmanship seats and 62 councillorship positions.
The Bwari race had attracted considerable attention, with both the PDP and APC keen to secure control of the council. Recently, the Supreme Court affirmed Musa as the valid APC chairmanship candidate after a protracted legal battle that went through the appellate court.
Wike’s role in facilitating what observers see as cross-party collaboration underscores his growing influence in FCT politics since his appointment as minister in 2023. A former governor of Rivers State and prominent PDP figure, he has often faced criticism within his party for his perceived closeness to the ruling APC and his open backing of some of its initiatives and candidates.
While maintaining his membership of the PDP, Wike has argued that internal crises within the opposition party have led to defections, a stance that has drawn accusations of anti-party conduct from critics who believe he is aligning with the APC’s political interests.
