Manny Ita –
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has begun announcing results of the 2026 Area Council elections in the Federal Capital Territory, declaring winners in key councils including Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Gwagwalada, and Bwari, amid widespread reports of low voter turnout across the territory.
In AMAC, the incumbent chairman, Christopher Maikalangu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), was returned elected after polling more than 40,000 votes, according to figures announced by the electoral body. INEC officials said the result reflected a clear margin over rival candidates, consolidating the APC’s hold on the council widely regarded as the political and administrative heart of the FCT.
In Gwagwalada Area Council, however, the opposition recorded a significant victory as Kasim Mohammed of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) emerged winner. The outcome represents a notable shift in the council’s political alignment and was described by party supporters as evidence of growing dissatisfaction with the ruling party at the grassroots level.
For Bwari Area Council, INEC declared the APC candidate, Ishaku, as duly elected, returning the party to power in the council. Electoral officials stated that the collation process proceeded without major disruptions, although isolated complaints were recorded.
A dominant theme of the election cycle has been voter apathy, with observers reporting sparse turnout at many polling units across the six councils. Civil society groups and election monitors attributed the low participation to a combination of security restrictions, logistical concerns, and public disillusionment with local governance.
Senator Ireti Kingibe expressed concern over the situation, describing the turnout as disappointing and urging authorities to address underlying causes of public disengagement. She noted that democratic legitimacy depends heavily on citizen participation and called for renewed voter education efforts ahead of future elections.
In contrast, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, assessed the exercise positively, stating that the process was orderly and credible. He said security arrangements and logistical deployment were effective, adding that the peaceful conduct of the polls demonstrated the readiness of institutions to deliver transparent elections in the territory.
INEC officials indicated that results from the remaining Area Councils would be announced after the completion of collation, as stakeholders continue to debate the implications of the low turnout for grassroots democracy in Nigeria’s capital.
