The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party has condemned the withdrawal of some of its chairmanship candidates ahead of the upcoming Abuja area council elections.

In a statement on Friday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Ini Ememobong, described the withdrawals as “shameful” and made without the party’s consent.

The PDP said it received the news “with utter dismay,” calling the action anti-democratic and unacceptable.

The party emphasized that democracy relies on competitive elections rather than what it described as “forced or induced consensus,” noting that such withdrawals signal a troubling trend ahead of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) local council polls.

The statement accused certain individuals, who claim to be party leaders, of attempting to compromise the party’s independence for the benefit of the President.

It further alleged that the withdrawals are part of a broader strategy to weaken internal opposition within the party ahead of future elections.

The PDP highlighted that some of the affected individuals had previously been expelled as part of efforts to strengthen the party and maintain a robust opposition capable of contesting for power in 2027.

“As sad as this development is, it reflects the type of voodoo democracy promoted by those parading as PDP leaders, whose only interest is to ‘hold’ the party for the President,” the statement read.

The party warned that such practices, if unchecked, could be used to compel other candidates to step down ahead of the next presidential election, undermining the democratic process.

PDP reiterated its commitment to a transparent and competitive electoral process, urging members to uphold party principles and resist undue influence.