The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections, Abel Diah, has stepped down from the race in favour of the All-Progressives Congress (APC) candidate Ishaku Adamu, the PDP said on Friday, following intervention by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

The PDP and APC are Nigeria’s two major political parties. In the run-up to the February 21 FCT Area Council elections, candidates from various parties were preparing to contest across the six area councils in the Federal Capital Territory. The party primaries held earlier produced candidates for the polls.

A statement issued by the PDP said Diah, a former speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, withdrew his candidacy to support Ishaku Adamu of the APC.

The statement said the withdrawal followed “intensive consultations” and an intervention by FCT Minister Wike.

The PDP statement said the decision was taken in the interest of peace and political stability in the FCT. It said Diah had communicated his decision to the PDP leadership and the Director-General of the party’s campaign council for the FCT polls.

The party said Wike intervened by mediating discussions with key stakeholders from both parties, including campaign coordinators and community leaders. The PDP statement credited his input with facilitating Diah’s decision to step aside.

Diah’s withdrawal means that Ishaku Adamu will now face candidates from other parties in the FCT Area Council election without facing a PDP candidate in the race, according to the PDP’s communication.

The PDP statement said: “Following intensive consultations, especially the intervention of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, Abel Diah has stepped down as the Peoples Democratic Party candidate for the upcoming FCT Area Council elections in favour of the All Progressives Congress candidate, Ishaku Adamu.”

A major opposition party candidate withdrawing in favour of a rival party’s nominee is an unusual development in Nigeria’s electoral contests and reflects ongoing political negotiations ahead of the February 21 FCT Area Council elections.

Such moves can affect the dynamics of local electoral contests in the nation’s capital.