The tense political atmosphere in Gwagwalada has taken a fresh turn as the chairmanship election draws closer, with the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) flag bearer, Hon. Usman Yahaya, responding sharply to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s latest statements.
Earlier, Chronicles Reporters detailed how the PDP’s local government chairman admitted to instructing his “media boys” not to criticize outgoing chairman Abu Giri, raising suspicions among residents about whether the ruling party was trying to shield the embattled leader from public backlash. The chairman had also dismissed Yahaya’s claim that PDP was being sponsored by outsiders, insisting the party recognized leaders like Philip Aduda and Nyesom Wike as respected figures within their fold.
But Yahaya is now hitting back. In a strongly worded statement released Sunday, September 7, the APC candidate accused the PDP of “fake propaganda,” claiming party members twisted his remarks to suggest he said PDP had no leaders in Gwagwalada. According to Yahaya, this misrepresentation prompted PDP stakeholders to convene an emergency meeting where they focused almost entirely on his comments rather than addressing burning issues of governance.
“All they were talking is Usman Yahaya says this, Usman Yahaya says that,” he said. “They also talked about Aduda and Wike. No one in APC ever said they were in APC, and no one said they would support APC.”
At the heart of the controversy lies the question of identity politics. PDP loyalists, insiders reveal, have pushed the narrative that Yahaya—a man of Kano origin—should not be entrusted with Gwagwalada’s leadership. Yahaya dismisses this as a distraction, pointing instead to his record as secretary of the Gwagwalada Area Council for nine years.
“If governance were based on capacity in Nigeria, this country would have been better than this. I appeal to Gwagwalada people to base their choice on capacity, which is part of my character,” Yahaya emphasized.
The APC candidate further commended his party members for running what he described as a “constructive campaign,” insisting that “victory is from God alone.”
Still, the unanswered questions linger. Why has the PDP chairman chosen to protect Abu Giri’s image despite residents’ widespread anger over his administration? Is the ruling party preparing to trade accountability for continuity, possibly by propping up Mohammed Kasim as a consensus candidate? Or is Yahaya correct in framing PDP’s position as a desperate attempt to distract from its failures by weaponizing identity politics?
As the campaigns intensify, what is becoming clearer is that the Gwagwalada election may not just be a contest between PDP and APC, it is fast shaping up as a test of whether residents will prioritize competence and accountability over elite bargains and ethnic sentiments.