FCT Area Council Elections Marked by Logistical Delays and Vote-Buying Allegations
The Federal Capital Territory's area council elections on February 21, 2026, proceeded amid mixed reports of peaceful voting, material delivery failures, voter apathy, and allegations of vote-buying in several locations.
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The Federal Capital Territory conducted area council elections across its six administrative divisions on Saturday, February 21, 2026, with the exercise characterized by delayed starts, logistical challenges, and allegations of electoral malpractice, despite generally peaceful security conditions.
Accreditation and voting commenced slowly across most polling stations between 8:30 and 9:30 a.m., according to reports from The Nation Newspaper. While security arrangements remained smooth in most locations, the late arrival of election materials disrupted the process in several areas, raising concerns about the electoral body's preparedness for grassroots democracy.
Material Delays and Voter Disenfranchisement
At Polling Unit 156 in the Damagaza settlement of Garki, voting did not commence until approximately 11:40 a.m. after Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials arrived with materials around 11:25 a.m., The Whistler reported. Similar delays plagued the Sabon Lugbe area, where confusion erupted following the misplacement of voters' unit centres, according to Vanguard News.
More troubling were reports of missing polling units entirely. At Ijayapi Primary School in Bhazhin Across, voters who had cast ballots at the location during the 2023 election were unable to locate their designated polling unit. "Some of the voters who spoke with THE WHISTLER stated that they had voted at that area during the 2023 election but were surprised when the unit disappeared," the publication reported, highlighting potential disenfranchisement.
In Abaji, voters complained about the omission of names from the voter register. Musa Aisha, a voter in the area, told Peoples Gazette that "the situation was stressful and very discouraging," underscoring the frustration experienced by citizens attempting to exercise their franchise.
Vote-Buying Allegations Surface
Serious allegations of vote-buying emerged from Gwagwalada, where a voter openly admitted to receiving ₦5,000 from political actors. Speaking at a polling unit, the voter claimed that individuals linked to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were distributing ₦2,000 to voters in exchange for their support, Sahara Reporters documented. The allegations cast a shadow over the credibility of the electoral process and raised questions about enforcement of anti-vote-buying provisions.
The low voter turnout observed across many polling units drew commentary from opposition figures. Omoleye Sowore, the 2023 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, attributed the apathy to recent amendments to the Electoral Act signed by President Bola Tinubu, though he did not elaborate on the specific provisions he believed discouraged participation, according to Vanguard News.
Mixed Reports on Voter Participation
Voter turnout varied significantly across the FCT's six area councils. While some locations like Kabusa 001 polling unit recorded "massive turnout" alongside heavy security presence, as Business Day reported, other areas experienced notably sparse participation. The Karu/Nyanya axis saw peaceful voting, with The Nation Newspaper describing the exercise as orderly in several polling units visited.
FCT Minister Nyesom Wike personally monitored the elections, commencing his oversight activities at approximately 12:15 p.m., according to The Nation Newspaper. His presence underscored the political significance of the area council elections in Nigeria's capital territory.
In a statement that may address concerns about result manipulation, INEC Chairman promised electronic transmission of results to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV). According to Channels Television, the electoral commission chief stated that "the credibility of the FCT area council elections will strengthen confidence in grassroots democracy," signaling the commission's awareness of the stakes involved in demonstrating transparent processes.
The FCT area council elections serve as an important barometer for Nigeria's electoral system, particularly as the country continues to grapple with questions of electoral integrity and citizen participation in democratic processes. The mixed outcomes from Saturday's voting—combining peaceful security conditions with logistical failures and vote-buying allegations—suggest that significant challenges remain in delivering credible grassroots elections. As INEC prepares to transmit results electronically, observers will scrutinize whether the technological interventions can overcome the operational and integrity issues that marked the voting process.