APC Dominates FCT Area Council Elections as PDP Secures Gwagwalada Victory
The All Progressives Congress secured chairmanship positions in four of six Federal Capital Territory area councils in elections held February 22, 2026, while the opposition PDP won in Gwagwalada and announced plans to challenge results in court.
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The All Progressives Congress consolidated its control over Nigeria's Federal Capital Territory after winning chairmanship elections in four of six area councils on February 22, 2026, with the opposition Peoples Democratic Party securing a single victory and signaling its intention to contest results through legal channels.
The Independent National Electoral Commission declared results across five area councils by Sunday evening, with collation ongoing in Kuje, the sixth and final council. The APC swept victories in the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Bwari, Kwali, and Abaji, while the PDP broke through in Gwagwalada, according to announcements from INEC returning officers.
APC Secures Strategic Victories Across FCT
In AMAC, the FCT's most populous area council encompassing central Abuja, Christopher Maikalangu of the APC was declared winner, extending the party's grip on the territory's administrative heart. The Nation Newspaper reported that INEC's collation officer announced Maikalangu's victory early Sunday morning, though specific vote tallies were not immediately disclosed in initial announcements.
The APC's Joshua Ishaku secured the Bwari chairmanship with 18,466 votes, according to Prof. Mohammed Nurudeen, the returning officer for Bwari. "INEC announced Ishaku as the duly elected chairman after he secured a total of 18,466 votes, defeating candidates of other political parties in the contest," Channels Television reported, citing the official declaration.
In Kwali Area Council, Daniel Nuhu of the APC garnered 17,032 votes to claim victory. The Whistler reported that Nuhu "secured victory across a majority of the wards" to defeat his main rival, Haruna, whose party affiliation and vote count were not specified in initial reports. The APC extended its winning streak to Abaji, where Umar Abdullahi Abubakar was declared winner by INEC, according to The Nation Newspaper.
PDP Breaks Through in Gwagwalada
The PDP prevented an APC clean sweep by capturing Gwagwalada Area Council, where Mohammed Kasim emerged victorious. Prof. Philip Akpeni, serving as returning officer, declared Kasim the winner in an announcement reported by multiple outlets including This Day and The Nation Newspaper.
Following the results, the PDP's FCT chapter issued a statement celebrating the Gwagwalada victory while announcing plans to challenge outcomes in other councils through the courts. According to Vanguard News, the party claimed its victories came "against the background of unprecedented intimidation, high-powered money politics," suggesting irregularities in the electoral process.
Election Observers Raise Concerns
Civil society organizations monitoring the elections flagged potential irregularities that could fuel legal challenges. The Centre for Democracy and Development deployed observers across all 62 wards in the FCT through its Election Analysis Centre. Idayat Hassan Garuba, speaking for the organization, raised concerns about polling unit reassignments and alleged vote-buying, according to Vanguard News.
The final area council result from Kuje remained pending as of Sunday evening. Premium Times reported that "result collation continues in Kuje," with INEC officials still tabulating votes from the council's polling units. The delay in announcing Kuje's results follows a pattern of staggered declarations that began early Sunday morning with AMAC and continued throughout the day.
Implications for FCT Governance
The 2026 area council elections represent the first electoral test for local governance in Nigeria's capital territory since the 2023 general elections. Area councils in the FCT function similarly to local government councils in Nigerian states, handling grassroots administration, revenue collection, and service delivery in their jurisdictions.
The APC's commanding performance mirrors the party's dominance in FCT's representation at the National Assembly, where it controls the territory's sole senatorial seat and two House of Representatives positions. However, the PDP's Gwagwalada victory demonstrates pockets of opposition strength that could complicate the ruling party's administrative agenda in the capital.
With legal challenges looming and one result still outstanding, the final configuration of FCT area council leadership may not be settled for weeks or months. Nigerian electoral law permits aggrieved parties to petition election tribunals within 21 days of result declarations, potentially extending uncertainty over local governance in Africa's fastest-growing capital city.