Voter Apathy Mars FCT Elections, Wike Expresses Satisfaction, Opposition Upset

…APC, PDP leading in many polling units, ADC trailing

By Ademu Idakwo, James Kwen, Igho Oyoyo, Ejike Ejike – Abuja

The 2026 Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council Elections yesterday were held  amidst  logistic challenge, voter apathy, allegations of malpractice, isolated security incidents,  across the polling units in six councils.

In  Gwarinpa to Lugbe, Kubwa, Asokoro, Garki, Wuse, Kuje, and Abaji, reports indicated that while voting commenced smoothly in some locations, several others experienced late arrival of materials, technical hitches, missing election items, and dramatically low participation.

At Polling Unit 168, Federal Staff Hospital, Setraco in Gwarinpa (AMAC), accreditation and voting began smoothly with priority given to persons with disabilities and senior citizens,but other communities told a starkly different story.

In Lugbe’s Polling Unit 008, where 3,306 voters are registered, fewer than 500 had arrived by 10:00 a.m. At the Registration Area Centre at LEA Primary School Lugbe, many ad-hoc staff were still awaiting instructions as late as 8:30 a.m., with materials dispatched only around 8:10 a.m. Foreign observers were sighted at polling units in Utako Primary School, but accreditation was delayed due to the non-arrival of materials.

The slow turnout extended across much of the city. At Polling Unit 110 near GSS Garki, only three voters had been sighted hours into voting. A shortage of ink caused further disruption, forcing a presiding officer to plead with a police officer to help find water to revive the ink pad.

With voting officially ending around 2:30 p.m., sorting and counting commenced immediately across Abaji, AMAC, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje and Kwali. Party agents and observers witnessed the process as results were prepared for electronic transmission to the INEC Result Viewing Portal.

In Bwari Area Council, early figures emerged from Maitama 1 and 2 Primary School (Kubwa RAC 09). For the councillorship race, 83 voters were accredited out of 1,805 registered, producing 82 valid votes and one rejected. APC led with 20 votes, followed by ZLP (16), YPP (12), PDP (9), APGA (9), ADC (8), A (6), SDP (1) and ADP (1). For chairmanship at the same location, APC also led with 20 votes, followed by ADC (19), ZLP (13), APGA (10), PDP (8), A (5), SDP (2) and ADP (1). At Polling Unit 047 in the same Kubwa registration area, only 32 votes were cast out of 756 registered voters. In Gwarinpa ward, LEA Primary School in Kado Village recorded 40 accredited voters out of 547 registered, with chairmanship results showing APC (25), ADC (7), ADP (1), SDP (1) and YPP (1). Other units in Kabusa and Kuje wards also recorded minimal participation.

APGA’s chairmanship candidate for Abuja Municipal Council, AMAC, Dr. Eze Onyenbuchi Chukwu, raised strong allegations after casting his vote in Asokoro.

He claimed INEC officials in Durumi 2 Polling Unit 022 failed to present original result sheets, stalling voting. According to him, all party agents except the ruling party’s had protested the irregularity.

He also alleged suppression of non-indigenes around Kagini, saying some voters were barred from entering communities to cast their ballots.

He further accused political actors of orchestrating vote-buying and intimidation in Orozo, warning that low turnout and irregularities could undermine local governance.

Similarly, ZLP’s AMAC chairmanship candidate, Swani Buba, who voted at Wuse Zone 1, also lamented widespread apathy despite the smooth conduct of BVAS accreditation.

He said remarks credited to the FCT Minister concerning the elections may have discouraged residents.

Although he expressed optimism about his chances and dismissed fears of BVAS malfunction, citing his wife’s seamless accreditation, he argued that the timing of the newly signed Electoral Act amendment was questionable, even though important ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Security presence remained strong across urban and satellite centres, with personnel from various agencies stationed along major routes and polling units.

Although the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room commended the peaceful atmosphere, it reported isolated incidents, including a voter arriving at a polling unit in Abaji with a cutlass, prompting a confrontation with youths before security officers intervened.

The coalition noted that INEC’s help desk responded promptly to issues but urged stakeholders to maintain professionalism during collation.

The electoral commission chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, who monitored polling units in Garki and Wuse, described the election as peaceful overall.

He said BVAS devices were functioning effectively and commended security agencies for professionalism. He acknowledged delays in material deployment in some areas but said they were promptly addressed.

He added that the commission was receiving positive reports from all six councils and would use lessons learned to improve future polls.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) issued a strongly worded statement condemning the movement of the FCT Minister around polling units, describing it as interference.

The party in a statement issued by the national publicity secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, alleged instances of voter intimidation and collaboration between ruling party agents and some security personnel.

ADC also complained about disruptions to the INEC Result Viewing Portal, calling for immediate restoration and a public explanation.

It urged voters and party agents to remain vigilant and document incidents.

In its preliminary briefing, Yiaga Africa urged INEC to ensure strict adherence to legal and technological procedures during collation.

It insisted that Form EC60E must be posted at polling units and Form EC8A uploaded via BVAS to IReV. The group reported late opening of numerous polling units, particularly in Wuse, Gwarinpa and parts of Abaji, and flagged missing or incomplete materials, such as absent voter registers, missing ink pads, and lack of voting cubicles.

It also highlighted confusion caused by late SMS notifications redirecting voters to newly created polling units and described disparities in voter distribution as troubling.

According to the report signed by the executive director, Samson Itodo, and Programme Manager, Cynthia Mbamalu, the organisation further documented instances of vote buying and restricted access for observers in some areas.

As results move to ward and council collation centres across the FCT, the recurring theme remains low voter turnout, an issue consistent with past area council elections.

Despite heavy campaigns and high expectations, many polling units recorded single-digit participation, raising fresh questions about political engagement at the grassroots. INEC is expected to begin announcing official results as collation progresses through the night.

Meanwhile, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has described Saturday’s area council elections as peaceful, despite widespread concerns about low voter turnout in parts of the capital.

Speaking after monitoring the exercise, Wike attributed the calm atmosphere to the efforts of security agencies.

“We thank God that everywhere is peaceful. The challenge we have is low voter turnout, particularly in the city centre, and that has always been the case. But going round to some of the satellite towns, we could see that the turnout is quite impressive.

“It is unfortunate in the city that you have a very low turnout, but in an off-cycle election like this, it is always the case. What is important is that the election is peaceful, no violence,” he said.

The minister added that security operatives performed creditably during the exercise, noting that there were no reports of violence.

Responding to comments by Senator Ireti Kingibe, who had said the minister did not consult widely before imposing a curfew for the elections, Wike dismissed claims that he personally ordered a curfew.

He said the directive was not a personal decision.

“It is very unfortunate. She should have read my statement carefully. I never imposed a curfew. I said Mr President has said from 8 pm on Friday to 6 pm on Saturday, that movement will be restricted, and this is not the first time,” he said.

Despite the restriction order, several residents reportedly moved freely across parts of the FCT.