Breaking: PDP Wins Gwagwalada Chairmanship as Kasim Secures Key Victory in FCT Council Polls

By Otobong Gabriel, Abuja 

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has recorded a significant grassroots victory in Nigeria’s capital, with its candidate, Mohammed Kasim, emerging winner of the chairmanship election in Gwagwalada Area Council.

Kasim polled 22,165 votes, defeating Yahaya Shehu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who secured 17,788 votes.

The result was officially announced by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Returning Officer, Philip Akpen, who described the exercise as peaceful, orderly, and smoothly conducted.

A Campaign Built on Grassroots Promises

Throughout his campaign, Kasim focused heavily on community-centered development. His manifesto prioritised:

Community welfare programmes

Women’s empowerment initiatives

Improved healthcare services

Better education opportunities for children

These issues appeared to resonate strongly with voters across the council, helping him edge past his closest rival.

Broader Context: A Win Amid PDP’s Internal Crisis

The victory comes at a challenging time for the PDP nationally. The party has been grappling with internal divisions, leadership disputes, and high-profile defections. Notably, figures such as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar have recently aligned with the African Democratic Congress (ADC), weakening the party’s national structure.

Despite these setbacks, the Gwagwalada win suggests the PDP still maintains strong grassroots support in several local communities.

FCT Elections Across Six Councils

The local government elections were conducted across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), covering six area councils:

Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC)

Abaji

Kwali

Kuje

Gwagwalada

Voters elected both chairmanship and councillorship candidates.

What This Means Politically

While local elections don’t always reflect national political strength, this result is symbolically important. Gwagwalada’s diverse, multi-ethnic, and multi-religious population makes it a microcosm of Nigeria itself. 

The PDP’s success there could signal that the APC’s recent wave of defections and dominance may not automatically translate into control at the grassroots level.

For the PDP, this win is more than just a seat — it’s a morale boost and a reminder that local connections still matter deeply in Nigerian politics.