ZLP Candidate Swani Buba Votes In AMAC Election, Decries Low Turnout

The chairmanship candidate of the Zenith Labour Party, Swani Buba, cast his vote on Saturday at Polling Unit 001, Registration Area 04 in Wuse Zone 1, amidst concerns over low voter turnout in the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) elections.

Buba arrived at the polling unit at about 10:20 a.m., completing his accreditation and casting his ballot by 10:27 a.m. using the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS). A brief delay during the accreditation process, which he jokingly attributed to his height, did not affect the exercise.
Speaking with journalists, the ZLP candidate commended the smooth voting process but expressed disappointment over what he described as widespread voter apathy.
“Unfortunately, voter apathy has really eaten deep into the electorate,” he said. “The process is smooth, but people are not coming out as expected.”
Buba also criticized statements reportedly made by the FCT Minister, noting that such comments may have discouraged residents from participating in the exercise.
“It seems his remarks scared a lot of people,” he stated. “He believes he can sway the elections the way he wants, and that has created fear among voters.”
Despite these concerns, the ZLP candidate maintained strong optimism about his chances, declaring, “I’ve been optimistic from day one, and I can categorically tell you I’m going to win this election.”
He also assured that his party would remain vigilant throughout the process. “We’ll be here to make sure our votes count. We’re watching,” he added.
Buba downplayed concerns over BVAS-related issues, noting that his wife’s accreditation was completed without delay. He said he did not expect widespread technical challenges.
Saturday’s election comes days after President Bola Tinubu signed amendments to the Electoral Act on February 19, 2026, introducing provisions for electronic result transmission. Buba, however, clarified that the newly signed amendments would not apply to the Area Council polls, which are being conducted under the 2022 guidelines.
He described the speed with which the amendment was signed as “questionable,” but welcomed it as progress toward improved electoral practices ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Area Council elections are being conducted across all six councils of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abaji, AMAC, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje, and Kwali, covering 62 wards and 2,822 polling units. A total of 1,680,315 voters are registered to participate.
As voting continued, security agencies maintained presence across major urban centers. Buba said he expected the city center to remain peaceful but would await reports from outlying wards.

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