The All Progressives Congress (APC) took an early lead in several polling units during the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) area council elections on Saturday, according to results displayed on the Independent National Electoral Commission’s Results Viewing Portal (IReV).
In Kwali Local Government Area, the APC polled 2,726 votes, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) received 2,104 votes, and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) had 180 votes. In Kuje Council Area, APC led with 615 votes, followed by PDP with 393 votes. Other parties, including APGA, ADC, and NNPP, recorded smaller numbers.
Abuja Municipal Area Council saw the APC secure 2,520 votes, ADC 750, and PDP 115. In Gwagwalada, the PDP led with 2,019 votes, while APC had 1,779 and ADC 115.
The elections, conducted to fill six chairmanship and 62 councillorship seats, were marked by low voter turnout and reports of vote buying. Many polling units across AMAC, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje, Abaji, and Kwali recorded single-digit or low double-digit voter participation early in the day. In some units, less than five percent of registered voters cast ballots. Observers noted that some residents appeared indifferent to the elections, reflecting widespread apathy.
Operational challenges also affected the polls. Voting started late in certain areas due to delayed arrival of officials and missing materials, while some voters protested omissions from registration lists. In some centres, voters were redistributed without sufficient prior notice, causing confusion.
Reports of vote buying emerged in parts of AMAC, with some votes reportedly exchanged for sums up to N10,000. Despite these issues, the elections remained largely peaceful.
The APC performed strongly in several AMAC polling units, consolidating its early lead in the chairmanship contests, while the ADC and PDP also recorded victories in specific areas, highlighting a competitive race across councils.
The ADC criticized the conduct of the elections, accusing the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, of interfering by visiting polling units during voting hours. The party described his presence as intimidating and alleged collaboration between APC agents and some security personnel in parts of the capital.
In response, the Senior Special Assistant to the Minister on Public Communications, Lere Olayinka, stated that Wike acted within his constitutional authority as chief security officer of the FCT and did not violate any law by monitoring the elections.
INEC continued uploading results to the IReV portal to maintain transparency. As of late evening, hundreds of results from polling units across AMAC, Kwali, Kuje, Gwagwalada, Bwari, and Abaji had been published.
