Gwagwalada, FCT – Political tensions are heating up in Gwagwalada Area Council as prominent grassroots mobilizer and political commentator, Dobiza Dobiza, has issued a fiery warning to the All Progressives Congress (APC) over its 2026 chairmanship ticket.
In a strongly worded Facebook post that has since sparked widespread debate across the council, Dobiza wrote:
“It is either APC changes the decision of Ganduje on Gwagwalada 2026 Chairmanship Candidature or stick to it and watch APC fail woefully!”
Dobiza’s statement refers to the decision of APC National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, to endorse Usman Yahaya as the party’s flag bearer for the Gwagwalada chairmanship election. According to Dobiza, Yahaya’s candidacy is both “illegal” and “unacceptable” to many party faithful.
Allegations of Illegality
Speaking to Chronicle Reporters, Dobiza accused the APC leadership of sidelining due process in the emergence of Yahaya.
“There was no primary election in Gwagwalada for the chairmanship position,” he alleged. “The APC constitution is clear — candidates must emerge through primaries, not through imposition from the top. What happened is nothing but a political coup against the will of the people.”
Dobiza further criticized the choice of Yahaya on ethnic grounds, claiming the APC had “abandoned local representation” by fielding what he described as a “Fulani candidate” in a council where “indigenous voices should be given priority.”
The post has generated mixed reactions. Some supporters echo Dobiza’s sentiment, insisting the APC risks alienating its base in Gwagwalada if it goes into the election with Yahaya as its candidate. Others have cautioned against ethnicizing the contest, warning that the real issue is transparency in candidate selection, not ethnicity.
Party insiders, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that several ward leaders are also dissatisfied with the process, hinting at the possibility of defections to opposition parties if the ticket is not revisited.
As at the time of filing this report, the APC leadership at both the national and FCT levels has not officially responded to Dobiza’s allegations or calls for a fresh primary. Usman Yahaya himself has remained silent, with his camp declining to comment.
With the election still months away, Dobiza’s hardline position signals the start of what could be a stormy campaign season for the ruling party in Gwagwalada. Whether Ganduje and the APC hierarchy will bow to grassroots pressure or press ahead with Yahaya’s candidacy remains to be seen.