WIKE SECURES PDP CANDIDATES’ SUPPORT FOR APC IN FCT, SAYS TINUBU DESERVES NO COMPETITION IN HIS OWN TERRITORY

By NaijaParrot October 13, 2026 

 ABUJA, NIGERIA — 

Three Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidates contesting National Assembly seats in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have stepped down in favour of their All Progressives Congress (APC) counterparts ahead of the 2027 general elections. The candidates announced their decision on Monday, October 12, during a stakeholders’ meeting of the Rainbow Coalition, a cross-party political alliance convened by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, in Abuja.

PDP candidates who stepped down are: * Gomna Stephen Gashe — House of Representatives seat for Abaji/Gwagwalada/Kwali/Kuje Federal Constituency. * Ahmed Dogara Jacob — House of Representatives seat for the Abuja Municipal Area Council/Bwari Federal Constituency. * Angulu Bako — Senate seat for the FCT. They declared support for the corresponding APC candidates: Danladi Chiya, Shekwogaza Gabaya and Philip Aduda, respectively. The decision represents a significant political development within the FCT as parties and political groups begin positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 elections.

 Speaking at the meeting, Wike explained that his willingness to support APC candidates in the FCT was linked to his commitment to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election. The minister argued that since Tinubu resides in the FCT, he was prepared to allow the APC to take the Senate and House of Representatives seats in the territory. Wike said: “Because the president resides here, he lives here. I don’t want to share anything with the president. Take senator and the two House of Representatives seats. But in my state, Rivers, I will take small.” Wike has repeatedly declared his intention to mobilise support for Tinubu’s re-election in both the FCT and Rivers State, despite remaining a member of the PDP. 

 The meeting brought together political stakeholders from both parties, including party officials, serving and former lawmakers, National Assembly candidates and grassroots representatives from the FCT’s six area councils. Wike described himself as the coordinator of Tinubu’s re-election campaign in the FCT and Rivers State, insisting that party differences should not prevent politicians from working towards a shared presidential objective. The PDP candidates who stepped down also pledged their support for Wike’s political direction and the coalition’s plans. 

 The development comes amid disagreements within the APC over Wike’s Rainbow Coalition. Some APC governors and party stakeholders have expressed concern that cross-party arrangements could undermine the party’s candidates in the 2027 elections. Wike, however, has maintained that his coalition is focused on securing Tinubu’s re-election and does not mean the PDP must abandon contests for other offices nationwide. The latest decision by the three FCT candidates raises further questions about how the coalition will affect party competition in the capital and whether similar arrangements will emerge in other states. 

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