The Chairman-elect of Gwagwalada Area Council in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Comrade Kasim Mohammed Ikwa, has dismissed reports circulating on social media alleging his defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC), describing the claims as entirely false and misleading .
Ikwa, who contested and won the February 21 chairmanship election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), stated emphatically that he remains “a proud, committed, and card-carrying member of the Peoples Democratic Party” .
“There is no meeting, no negotiation, no discussion, and no intention whatsoever to defect,” the chairman-elect declared, adding that those spreading the falsehood are either mischief-makers or individuals politically unsettled by the clear mandate freely given to him by the electorate .
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Ikwa winner of the Gwagwalada contest with 22,165 votes, defeating his closest rival, Yahaya Shehu of the APC, who polled 17,788 votes . The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate finished third with 1,687 votes . Gwagwalada recorded 207,577 registered voters, with 46,294 accredited voters and 43,960 valid votes cast .
The defection rumours emerged amid heightened political tensions following the FCT council elections, where the APC secured victories in five of the six area councils—Abaji, AMAC, Bwari, Kwali, and Kuje—while the PDP managed to retain only Gwagwalada .
Despite the APC’s dominant performance, the party has signalled it may challenge the Gwagwalada result. Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara, who chaired the FCT APC Campaign Council, confirmed the party’s Situation Room is reviewing electoral documents to determine if grounds exist for a court petition to “reclaim the seat” .
The PDP, meanwhile, has inaugurated a special legal team headed by its National Legal Adviser, Shafi Bara’u, Esq., to handle all petitions arising from the FCT elections . The party alleged widespread irregularities, including claims that “armed security personnel were used to cart away result sheets in polling units, intimidate voters, and unduly influence the outcome of the elections” .
Ikwa urged residents to disregard the unfounded reports and remain focused on the collective task ahead—delivering inclusive and effective governance to the people of Gwagwalada Area Council .
—
Disclaimer: This report is based on multiple news sources as cited. CDA News Nigeria does not independently verify claims made by political candidates or parties regarding electoral outcomes or defection speculations.
© 2026 CDA News Nigeria. All rights reserved.
Privacy Policy: CDA News Nigeria is committed to protecting the privacy of our readers. We do not share personal data with third parties without consent. Full policy available at www.cdanews.ng/privacy.
Contact: For inquiries, submissions, or advertising, contact us at info@cdanews.ng or visit our headquarters at Suite 348,Ikwerre Road, PortHarcourt, Nigeria.
