APC Wins FCT Area Councils in Abuja, Setting Up Momentum for 2027

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) swept five of the six area councils in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) during last Saturday’s council elections, while the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) won the remaining council. Although 17 political parties were listed on the ballot, only four appeared to register a meaningful presence. The vote also drew attention for its calm execution, uneven turnout, and the early indications of how residents link local elections to day-to-day service delivery, as Abuja Bureau Chief Onyedi Ojiabor reported after monitoring the process.

Election day atmosphere across the FCT

The 2026 FCT area council elections took place on Saturday with a steady, orderly rhythm across all six councils, from Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) to Bwari, Abaji to Kwali, Kuje to Gwagwalada. Observers and residents described the voting as methodical and largely free from disruptive flashpoints.

For many, the most lasting impression may be the contrast between the quiet conduct of the polling process and the sharper political echoes that traditionally follow election results. Even so, the overall exercise stood out for its procedural stability and the absence of major incidents that could have derailed accreditation or voting.

One other headline from the day was turnout. Participation was noticeably uneven from council to council, suggesting that residents’ interest in grassroots politics varies depending on location and the immediacy of local issues.

In AMAC, voter participation appeared more limited, reflecting what residents described as a familiar urban tendency to disengage from local governance. By contrast, Bwari and Gwagwalada saw more visible activity at polling sites, particularly in communities where access to basic services remains a recurring concern.

That split in turnout highlighted how different segments of the territory connect council elections to practical quality-of-life questions, rather than treating the vote as a purely political ritual.

Security arrangements keep polling calm

Security planning played a central role in maintaining the calm. Personnel were present in a visible but measured way, helping protect the process while still allowing accreditation and voting to proceed smoothly.

The lack of significant security incidents reinforced confidence that the election environment remained controlled and civic-minded across all six councils.

FCT Commissioner of Police Miller Dantawaye confirmed that the overall operation was peaceful. He praised officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force for their conduct during the council polls, describing the exercise as both calm and free of major difficulties.

Dantawaye said he monitored voting across several polling units, with special attention on locations in more remote and border communities. Those included Igu Village in Bwari Area Council, Yangoji in Kwali Area Council, and Giri in Gwagwalada Area Council, as well as polling areas in Kuje and Abaji Area Councils.

FCT Police Public Relations Officer Josephine Adeh added that the commissioner engaged directly with voters and other stakeholders to evaluate both the conduct of police at polling units and the broader security situation. She said voters expressed satisfaction with the arrangements and commended the professionalism, civility, and alertness shown by security officers and other personnel deployed for election duties.

Adeh also quoted Dantawaye as thanking FCT residents and the electorate for their cooperation, crediting that support for the peaceful atmosphere recorded during the area council vote.

Administration, accreditation and collation

Beyond security, administrative execution shaped public perception. Accreditation and voting procedures were largely consistent across the councils, suggesting a coordinated approach to running the polls.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) projected an image of institutional steadiness during the election itself, though attention later shifted to how credible and transparent the collation stage would be.

As the results filtered through, the broader picture appeared rooted in the localised nature of grassroots contests in the FCT, where community ties and candidate visibility can outweigh national political messaging.

Across Kuje and several other councils, voters were described as being influenced more by personal familiarity, community relationships, and how accessible candidates were, rather than by broader party narratives. Responsiveness and perceived closeness to residents were recurring themes in discussions at polling units.

Another consistent feature was the subdued tone at polling locations. Party representatives and voters generally interacted with fewer visible confrontations than seen in some previous election cycles. Where disagreements surfaced, they were largely procedural, and the atmosphere suggested a gradual move toward more structured grassroots electoral engagement.

Persistent issues: awareness and understanding of council roles

Even with orderly conduct, the elections also brought forward structural concerns. Residents in multiple councils said they remained unclear about the specific responsibilities of area council administrations.

That lingering knowledge gap was presented as a factor that continues to affect participation levels, helping explain why turnout differed between more urbanised areas and more rural communities.

How many parties and candidates contested?

The election involved six area councils, 62 electoral wards, and 2,822 polling units. Seventeen political parties took part, with 570 candidates competing for seats representing 1,680,315 registered voters.

While all 17 parties were officially in the race, it appeared that only four—APC, PDP, African Democratic Congress (ADC), and All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA)—made a significant impression.

APC dominates and wins five councils

The APC’s result was described as forceful and decisive, with the party showing clear strength as results were released. The APC’s performance was visible across five of the six councils, and the party’s supporters framed the outcome as an effort to reshape the political storyline in the FCT.

Election outcomes showed that PDP won Gwagwalada Area Council, while the APC took the remaining councils. In Gwagwalada, PDP secured 22,165 votes. APC received 17,788, APGA finished with 1,682, and ADC obtained 1,368.

In Bwari Area Council, APC carried the day with 18,466 votes. ADC won 4,254 votes, and ZLP recorded 3,515.

In Kwali Area Council, APC again topped the poll with 17,032 votes. PDP followed with 8,575, ADP scored 3,225, and ADC recorded 1,073.

In Abaji Area Council, APC won with 15,536 votes, while PDP tallied 4,547 and ADC managed 37.

In AMAC, APC secured 40,295 votes. ADC came next with 12,109, and PDP trailed with 3,398.

In Kuje Area Council, results were delayed due to difficult terrain. When the voting was ultimately collated, APC won with 17,269 votes, PDP secured 15,824, APGA recorded 4,305, and ADC finished with 716.

ADC setback and reaction inside parties

The ADC suffered a sharp setback despite a notable presence in Abuja, and party stakeholders were said to be drawing lessons from the FCT council elections—suggesting the experience could serve as a warning not to repeat avoidable errors.

Reports also indicated a stunned mood among ADC figures, with observers noting that stakeholders were already assessing both intended and unintended consequences of their choices leading into the polls.

Turnout figures and INEC responses to voter-apathy claims

Voter apathy was widely discussed ahead of and during the aftermath of the council elections, but INEC disputed some interpretations. The electoral body said turnout was an improvement compared with earlier FCT area council votes.

INEC reported that participation in Saturday’s elections stood at around 15% of registered voters—an increase from previous exercises.

Wilfred Ifogah, Acting Director for Voter Education and Publicity, commended residents for their peaceful conduct while denying claims that some voters were transferred to different polling units.

Ifogah said difficulties some voters experienced in locating their polling points were tied to the splitting of certain units to improve access. He maintained that voters were not moved away from their original locations.

INEC timelines, opening of polling units, and results upload

INEC’s statement also detailed the schedule and operational milestones. The commission said it held elections on Saturday, February 21, 2026, for chair positions across the six area councils in the FCT and for 62 councillorship seats. It added that results were announced late on Saturday, except for Kuje Area Council, where the announcement came at 3:30 pm on Sunday, February 22, 2026.

INEC expressed appreciation to FCT residents and the electorate for their peaceful conduct and cooperation throughout the electoral process.

The commission further stated that, based on its Election Operations Dashboard, 45% of polling units were open for voting by 8:30 am, and all polling units were confirmed open by 10:00 am on election day. INEC acknowledged that some voters faced challenges identifying their assigned polling units.

It then addressed misinformation about voter movement. INEC said it categorically rejected claims that voters were migrated to new polling units different from their original ones. The commission said it created split polling units within larger units containing more than 1,250 registered voters to prevent congestion on election day. These split units, it said, were located a few metres away from the initial polling points within the same premises.

INEC also recalled that it displayed the Register of Voters at designated centres or split polling units four days before the elections so voters could confirm their details and polling locations. It said text messages and emails were delivered to affected voters on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday of the previous week, indicating the precise locations of split polling units. It emphasised these notifications were intended only as reminders to help voters identify where they should vote.

On digital results, INEC said that as of 2:00 pm on Sunday, February 22, 2026, polling unit results had been uploaded to the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal at a rate of 93%. It added that residents of the FCT and other interested members of the public could access results from the six area councils through the portal.

While INEC remained concerned about voter apathy, it reiterated that turnout was a marked improvement. It compared the 2022 area council election, when 148,685 voters were recorded (9.4% of registered voters), with the current election in which more than 239,210 voters cast ballots—about 15% of the 1,680,315 registered voters in the FCT.

Finally, INEC said the delay in Kuje Area Council results was linked to the difficult terrain of Kabi Ward, which slowed the completion of final collation for that council.

In closing, INEC thanked the electorate for its cooperation and said participation across the six area councils demonstrated citizens’ continued trust in building democracy and strengthening the electoral system.

What the council vote means as 2027 approaches

With the country moving closer to the 2027 general elections, the intense FCT council contest has surfaced issues that will likely matter beyond this ballot. INEC, while appearing to manage the polls steadily, may still have significant work ahead to maintain its credibility as the political calendar advances.

For winners, the victory will bring celebrations and confidence. For those who lost, the next step is likely to be careful reflection and planning for the next opportunity.

More broadly, the key significance of the FCT elections will be shaped by what happens after the vote—how official results are accepted, how stakeholders respond, and how elected leaders perform once they take office.

Peaceful polling is an important benchmark, but the deeper expectation across all six councils is effective governance.

Taken together, the elections depict a picture of gradual democratic consolidation across the territory. The process showed organisational control and relative calm from Abaji through Kwali, while also revealing the continuing challenge of strengthening citizen engagement.

The true aftermath will be measured not only by who emerged victorious, but also by whether local governance becomes more visible, responsive, and trusted in residents’ daily lives.

FCT residents delivered their message through their votes, and their choice should be respected. But as observers noted, those choices carry consequences—whether positive or negative.