ADC Tests Might Against APC, Others In FCT Election

Tinubu appeals for peaceful polls, Wike vows to deliver  |  Atiku, Obi, Amaechi in fierce battle for relevance

By Ademu Idakwo, James Kwen, Moses Orjime, Abuja

Ahead of the 2027 general elections, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) will today test its popularity in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council election.

Today’s council poll is expected to serve as a litmus test of the party’s strength against dominant rivals, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), and other political parties.

Political parties were on Friday fine-tuning strategies, mobilising supporters, and positioning candidates ahead of what analysts predict will be one of the most competitive local contests in years in the capital territory.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had already set timelines and operational frameworks, heightening expectations for a high-stakes race that could reshape political alignments before the 2027 cycle fully unfolds.

INEC disclosed that over 1.58 million Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) had been collected across the FCT.

In the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), 795,081 PVCs out of 841,587 registered voters were collected, representing 94.5%.

The update, signed by INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, signals a possible high voter turnout.

According to the commission, as of 10 February 2026, the FCT had 1,680,315 registered voters, with 1,587,025 PVCs collected, a 94.4% collection rate, leaving 93,290 uncollected.

INEC further explained that performance across the six area councils reflected encouraging participation:

Abaji: 75,517 of 79,471 — 95.0%; Bwari: 276,360 of 295,711 — 93.5%; Gwagwalada: 196,184 of 208,057 — 94.3%; Kuje: 144,109 of 148,286 — 97.2%; Kwali: 99,774 of 107,203 — 93.1%; and AMAC: 795,081 of 841,587 — 94.5%.

INEC added that several Registration Areas recorded collection rates above 99%, reflecting strong grassroots engagement.

The commission commended residents for their cooperation, emphasising that only voters with valid PVCs would be allowed to vote.

The FCT Area Council elections remain the only local government polls in Nigeria conducted directly by INEC.

Residents of Abaji, AMAC, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje, and Kwali will elect six chairmen and 62 councillors across 68 constituencies.

The Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) will be deployed in all polling units, with results transmitted electronically to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV).

Security agencies have announced extensive deployments, and movement restrictions will be enforced from 6 am to 6 pm on Election Day. Campaigns officially ended at midnight on 19 February.

For the ADC, the election represents more than a routine test; it offers a chance to prove its growing appeal, strengthen its grassroots structures, and challenge the longstanding dominance of larger parties. Observers say the outcome may offer early clues about shifting voter sentiments ahead of the national elections.

Recent campaign activities reflect the seriousness of the contest.

ADC presidential aspirants, including Rotimi Amaechi, Peter Obi, and Atiku Abubakar, have visited communities in Abuja to canvass support for ADC candidates contesting for chairmanship and councillor positions.

“This election is very important. It will say a lot about how ready the managers of our elections are to deliver free, fair and credible polls. It will also say a lot about how ready people are to chase the APC out.

“Voters have the responsibility to defy all forms of intimidation and make the right choice. APC must be voted out in the coming elections, and we should start with the FCT elections,” Atiku said.

Amaechi also told the voters that if they refused to vote, “these votes will still win the election.”

Obi, Atiku visit Kugbo Market, Garki

One of the key locations visited was the Kugbo Furniture Market, recently hit by fire.

Obi interacted with traders, discussed recovery efforts, and addressed concerns about emergency response systems. His engagements with AMAC chairmanship hopeful Dr. Moses Paul sought to boost grassroots participation and raise party visibility.

Atiku Abubakar also accompanied Dr. Paul to Wasa, Garki Area 1, Zone 4, and other areas, urging residents to support the ADC and describing the election as the first step toward “rescuing the country.”

APC Ups Campaign

Sensing the shifting political landscape, the APC intensified its mobilisation.

The party inaugurated a 137-member National Campaign Council led by Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq and co-chaired by Hope Uzodinma, signalling a determination not to concede ground in the FCT.

The council’s composition, with governors, ministers, and top party figures, underscores how the contest has become a fierce battle between the ruling party and a rapidly rising ADC.

Inaugurating the council at the party’s headquarters in Abuja, APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda charged members to work assiduously to deliver total victory for the party and expressed confidence in the leadership of the council headed by Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, describing the team as experienced and battle-ready.

Yilwatda announced the appointment of three governors, Hope Uzodinma, Mai Mala Buni, and Mohammed Umar Bago, as co-chairmen of the high-powered council.

“Our campaign is not selective. It is ongoing across communities, cutting across tribes and regions. Governors from every geopolitical zone are engaging directly with the people. We are mobilising more than any other party, and we are confident of victory,” Yilwatda said.

In his remarks, Abdulrazaq thanked the party leadership for the confidence reposed in the council, describing the task as both a responsibility and an opportunity to deepen democratic dividends for FCT residents.

“This campaign is not just about rallies; it is about results, winning through strategy, effective mobilisation and genuine grassroots engagement,” he said.

He noted that the composition of the council reflects Abuja’s status as a melting pot of Nigerians, with representatives and governors drawn from all six geopolitical zones to ensure coordinated outreach and effective mobilisation across communities. “With dedication, discipline and unity, we are confident of victory across all six area councils,” Abdulrazaq affirmed.

Other prominent members of the council include Governors Uba Sani, Peter Mbah, Hyacinth Alia, Sheriff Oborevwori, Monday Okpebholo, Biodun Oyebanji, Francis Nwifuru, and Umo Eno, as well as Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives Abbas Tajudeen.

During a campaign stop, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar reiterated that the election is a major test for INEC and insisted on a fair and credible process.

ADC candidate dares Wike on ‘writing results’

Meanwhile, ADC’s AMAC chairmanship candidate, Dr. Paul Moses, has issued a pointed remark toward FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, asserting that Wike cannot influence or “write” election results in AMAC.

Moses insisted that AMAC is not Obio-Akpor, Wike’s political base in Rivers State, where he alleged such manipulation was possible.

“Tell Wike AMAC is not Obio-Akpor… We own this city,” he said in a video posted on X by Seleman (@Eromosele6).

Moses reaffirmed that the will of the people would prevail and expressed confidence that figures such as Ireti Kingibe and other stakeholders would ensure that votes count.

He reminded supporters of his past activism, including leading protests in 2023 and spending time in DSS custody.

He declared that Saturday’s election would usher in a new AMAC defined by boldness, objectivity, decisiveness, and fearlessness. “Enough of people dying, enough of poverty… We own this city,” he said.

As part of the wider FCT elections, the AMAC chairmanship vote is poised to be an early battleground for testing ADC’s strength and rising influence ahead of 2027.

In the buildup to the polls, FCT Minister Nyesom Wike publicly criticised the opposition, declaring he would oppose any candidate who stands against President Bola Tinubu’s agenda.

Wike said: “We have the FCT area council election coming up on February 21, and I have the duty to support any candidate that supports President Tinubu to win. It is my duty to ensure that any candidate who is not supporting Tinubu doesn’t win in the election, and I owe no apology for my stance.”

His remarks were widely interpreted as a declaration of “political war,” sparking backlash. The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) condemned the comments, viewing them as undue interference.

The strongest reaction came from the ADC, which rejected Wike’s remarks and criticised his “war-like” rhetoric.

The party insisted that democratic principles, not threats, would determine the winners. According to the ADC, Abuja residents are prepared to make independent choices despite political pressure.

Two PDP candidates step down

Meanwhile, two candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party for the Chairmanship election have stepped down.

They are the candidates for the Abuja Municipal Area Council: Zadna Dantani, and the Chairmanship candidate for Bwari Area Council: Julius Adamu, Joshua Musa.

Dantani’s decision, which was made public on Thursday, came less than 24 hours after the PDP Chairmanship candidate for Bwari Area Council, Julius Adamu, stepped down for the APC candidate, Joshua Musa.

Dantani attributed his withdrawal to the intervention of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

In a video sent to one of our correspondents by the media aide to Wike, Lere Olayinka, Dantani said, “My name is Hon. Zadna Dantani, the Chairmanship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the Abuja Municipal Area Council for Saturday’s Area Council elections.

“I want to sincerely appreciate everyone who supported us, and by the grace of God, we are doing it, not because of our personal interests.

“I am here to tell my people that as a candidate who is standing for this election, I have today, agreed based on the intervention of the Honourable Minister of FCT, Barrister Nyesom Wike, who is our leader in the party and the leader in FCT, who has called my attention to let us know that this is a brotherhood election. I am also doing this in support of the good works of President Bola Tinubu,” he said.

He described the election as one rooted in unity rather than rivalry.

Heated Atmosphere Ahead of FCT Polls

Wike’s comments have added tension to an already charged political environment. With defections, withdrawals, and public disagreements, observers describe the 2026 Abuja council elections as among the most contested in recent years. Despite the heat, ADC and other opposition voices continue to urge calm and encourage wider participation.

Concerns have also surfaced over the conduct of supporters. The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), led by its National Chairman, Dabo Dantelle, urged political actors not to overheat the polity.

“Election is not war; people have the final say,” he warned.

Dantelle also urged INEC to remain impartial and ensure acceptance of the results. Speaking with LEADERSHIP Weekend, he expressed concern about strong comments from both APC and opposition supporters.

As voters across the six area councils head to the polls tomorrow, the Grassroots Center for Rights and Civic Orientation (GRACO) called for measures to boost voter confidence and turnout.

The organisation emphasised the need for impeccable logistics, strategic security deployment, and solutions to historic challenges that have discouraged participation.

GRACO highlighted alarmingly low turnout in the 2022 FCT Area Council elections, averaging 9%, with AMAC at 5.3% and Abaji at 18.08%.

With 1,680,315 registered voters across 2,822 polling units for the 2026 elections, the potential for strong participation exists, but only if trust in the process is restored.

The group cited distrust, security concerns, vote-buying, and the lack of disability-inclusive polling stations as factors undermining turnout. It also acknowledged INEC’s improvements, including consultations on election-risk mapping and disability-inclusive planning.

GRACO encouraged candidates to avoid inflammatory rhetoric and urged voters to turn out in large numbers.