By Moses Okorie
The City Centre Ward chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Honourable Rowland Isiramen alongside 10 of his executive committee members have dumped their party and declared support for the incumbent chairman of the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Honourable Christopher Zakka Maikalangu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the February 21, 2026 FCT Councils Election.
In a report of AMAC Tribune Newspaper, obtained on Saturday by NationsPride, those that joined the chairman in the defection include the Secretary, Woman leader, Youth leader, Organizing secretary, Treasurer, Legal and four ex-officios.
The report reads: “In a dramatic turn of events that has sent shockwaves across the political landscape of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), the entire structure of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in City Center Ward has officially collapsed into the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“The mass defection, which was led by the PDP Ward Chairman, Hon. Rowland Isiramen, marks a decisive realignment of political forces in the City Center and underscores the deepening cracks within the PDP over control of the ward’s political structure”.
According to sources, the move is the culmination of months of internal conflict between the youth faction of the party and entrenched power brokers who have consistently sought to dominate the ward leadership, often sidelining the younger members who drive grassroots mobilization.
It was said that tension reached a breaking point after a leading PDP stalwart allegedly declared that he could win the ward election without the youths.
Speaking during the defection event, Isiramen said the decision to move with the entire ward structure was taken after extensive consultations and reflection on the future of inclusive leadership in the ward.
“The youths are the backbone of our democracy, and any political structure that undermines them is doomed to fail. We are aligning with a leader who listens, unites, and delivers — and that leader is Hon. Christopher Maikalangu,” Isiramen declared.
The defection, observers say, represents not just a political statement but a youth-driven revolt against the old order within the PDP. Several ward executives, youth mobilizers, and grassroots influencers were seen joining Hon. Isiramen in what many described as a “total movement” to the APC.
One of the youth leaders said: “This is beyond party politics — it’s about dignity and recognition. The PDP power brokers have turned the ward into a private estate, ignoring those of us who do the real work. We are proud to align with Maikalangu’s progressive leadership.”
