The Federal Capital Territory FCT Area Council elections held on Saturday, February 21, 2026, saw the All Progressives Congress (APC) winning five of the six councils, including Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Kwali, Kuje, Bwari, and Abaji. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) secured victory in Gwagwalada.
The Independent National Electoral Commission INEC, on Sunday morning, declared Mohammed Kasim of the PDP the winner of the Gwagwalada Area Council chairmanship election. INEC Returning Officer, Philip Akpen, announced that Mohammed scored 22,165 votes, defeating APC’s Yahaya Shehu, who garnered 17,788 votes.
Akpen affirmed that Mohammed “met the legal requirements to be returned as the duly elected chairman” and described the electoral process as “peaceful and smooth,” despite the high stakes.
In Kwali, Daniel Nuhu of APC was declared the winner with 17,032 votes, defeating PDP’s Haruna Pai, who scored 8,575 votes. Joshua Ishaku of APC won Bwari with 18,466 votes, while Zakka Christopher of APC secured AMAC with 40,295 votes, defeating ADC’s 12,109 votes and PDP’s 3,398 votes.
Hon. Abdullahi Abubakar of APC emerged victorious in Abaji, polling 15,535 votes to defeat the Young Progressives Party (YPP) candidate’s 5,357 votes. The PDP candidate trailed with 4,547 votes, followed by the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) with 53 votes and ADC with 37 votes. Hon. Samuel Shekwolo of APC also won the Kuje Area Council.
With the outcome, APC and President Bola Tinubu are seen to have strengthened their grip on Abuja ahead of the 2027 general election, although the FCT election was an off-season exercise that may not serve as a full indicator.
Tinubu: Successful Conduct of Polls Strengthens Democracy
President Bola Tinubu commended the successful conduct of elections in FCT, Rivers, and Kano, saying they “further strengthened democratic culture and institutions.”
He called on INEC to continue improving its efforts to deliver “even more exemplary electoral processes” and urged winners to serve “with humility, patriotism, and dedication” while viewing their mandates as “a sacred trust.”
In a statement released by his Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the president lauded INEC, security agencies, and voters for ensuring a peaceful process. He also praised the courage and discipline of all contestants, noting that “democracy is enriched with the vibrancy of participation and competition.”
APC: Victories Reflect Grassroots Strength
APC National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, described the party’s victories in FCT and the by-elections in Kano and Rivers as “a clear testament to the resilience, unity, and grassroots strength of the party .”
In a post on X, Yilwatda said, “I heartily congratulate our teeming supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Federal Capital Territory, Kano, and Rivers States on the successful and peaceful conduct of the Saturday, 21st February 2026 polls. The victories recorded are a clear testament to the resilience, unity, and grassroots strength of our great party .”
He also congratulated “the five APC chairmanship candidates who emerged victorious in AMAC, Kuje, Abaji, Bwari and Kwali, as well as the PDP chairmanship candidate who won in Gwagwalada. The people have spoken through the ballot, and democracy has prevailed.”
Wike: Poll Outcome Exposes ‘Emergency Democrats’
Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike, congratulated President Tinubu on the peaceful conduct of the elections, saying the results “have exposed emergency democrats, who see nothing good in the country and its government.”
“The residents of FCT demonstrated that they cannot be deceived by emergency democrats,” Wike said. He described the election as a reflection of Tinubu’s vision and the Renewed Hope Agenda, which he said “has brought optimism and confidence to the people of FCT.”
Wike added, “I commend the president for standing firm in his defence of democracy, particularly in ensuring the amendment of the Electoral Act to strengthen the conduct of credible elections. At this juncture, I also congratulate the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for conducting a free, fair, and credible election .”
Southern Governors, Lagos APC Praise Results
The Southern Governors’ Forum, led by Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun, applauded APC’s performance in the FCT, describing it as an endorsement of Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. Abiodun said, “No doubt, the outcome of the area council polls at the FCT has shown clearly that Nigerians are fully aligned with President Bola Tinubu and the APC, and will again demonstrate this during the 2027 general election .”
Lagos State APC also described the results as a “referendum on Tinubu’s legacy.” Spokesperson Seye Oladejo said, “The resounding victories recorded by our candidates reaffirm the confidence of the electorate in the Renewed Hope Agenda and the transformative policies being implemented at both the federal and state levels.”
Opposition Reactions
ADC AMAC chairmanship candidate, Dr Moses Paul, vowed to continue the fight for the people’s mandate despite alleging poll irregularities. “Today, I stand before you not as a man diminished by an outcome, but as a man enlarged by a movement,” he said.
PDP leadership called on INEC to release results from two Kuje wards, citing concerns of manipulation due to the party’s marginal leads. National Publicity Secretary Ini Ememobong said, “Election results must remain a true reflection of the votes of the people; anything less invalidates the entire process.”
PDP presidential hopeful Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim described the FCT results as evidence that the party is regaining momentum ahead of the 2027 general election. “The PDP is a resurgent party. Despite leadership disputes at the national level and deliberate efforts to weaken our structure in the FCT, the people stood firmly by the party,” he said.
Conference of Professionals in PDP (CP-PDP) also claimed APC tried to manipulate results in Kuje using security forces, calling for police intervention. CP-PDP Chairman Obinna Nwachukwu said, “The manifest popularity and performance of the PDP in the FCT election, despite the serial attacks, threats, intimidation, propaganda, lies and extensive shenanigans by the APC, further underscore the undisputed strength and potency of the PDP at the grassroots level across the country.”
INEC Responds to Allegations
INEC denied migrating voters to different polling units, clarifying that “split polling units” were created in large units to reduce congestion. Acting Director, Wilfred Ifogah, explained, “Contrary to claims in some quarters, voters were not migrated. The split units are located a few meters away from the original polling units within the same premises.”
He added that voter registers were displayed four days before the election, and reminders were sent via text and email to ensure voters knew their designated polling units. According to INEC’s Election Operations Dashboard, 45% of polling units opened by 8:30 a.m., and all were confirmed open by 10 a.m.
Source: VON – https://von.gov.ng/fct-council-polls-apc-wins-5-of-6-area-councils/
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