The All Progressives Congress (APC) has consolidated its dominance in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), winning five of the six area council chairmanship seats in Saturday’s elections. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) secured Gwagwalada, while the APC captured Abuja Municipal, Kwali, Kuje, Bwari, and Abaji councils.
President Bola Tinubu praised the successful conduct of the FCT elections, along with by-elections in Rivers and Kano states, saying the process has strengthened Nigeria’s democratic culture and institutions. He urged winners to serve with humility and dedication, describing their mandate as a sacred trust.
APC National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, described the party’s victories as proof of its resilience, unity, and grassroots strength. He congratulated party members and supporters for contributing to a peaceful electoral process.
FCT Minister Nyesom Wike highlighted that the election outcome exposed “emergency democrats,” emphasizing the people’s commitment to democracy and confidence in governance. He noted that the results reflected President Tinubu’s vision and the Renewed Hope Agenda, which has inspired optimism in the FCT.
The Southern Governors’ Forum and Lagos State chapter of APC also lauded the party’s performance, interpreting the results as a vote of confidence in the president’s leadership and policies. Meanwhile, PDP leadership called for the release of pending results in two wards of Kuje Area Council, raising concerns about delayed announcements, while congratulating its successful candidates, including Mohammed Kasim of Gwagwalada.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate for Abuja Municipal Area Council, Dr. Moses Paul, challenged the declared results, alleging irregularities and vowing to continue advocating for the electorate’s mandate.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) denied relocating voters from their original polling units, clarifying that split polling units were created in larger locations to prevent congestion. The commission confirmed that all voters had been informed of their designated units prior to election day.
Meanwhile, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arrested 20 individuals across the FCT for various electoral offences, including vote buying and obstruction of officers, totaling over N17 million in seized funds. The suspects are set to face prosecution.
In related developments, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele defended the rapid presidential assent to the Electoral Act 2026, highlighting that the law followed two years of consultations with key stakeholders including civil society organizations, the Attorney-General’s office, and INEC. The law introduces reforms such as mandatory electronic transmission of results, BVAS verification, party primaries reforms, and stricter penalties for electoral offences, designed to enhance transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s electoral process.
Catholic Bishops under the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) urged the National Assembly to review certain provisions of the Electoral Act to safeguard democracy and reflect the electorate’s will. Church leaders emphasized that modern electronic transmission of results is critical to free, fair, and credible elections in 2027.
Meanwhile, government officials, including the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, highlighted ongoing efforts to address insecurity, reduce food prices, and support students, while acknowledging that no human law is perfect and improvements to the electoral framework can be made where necessary.
