From High Hopes To Low Queues: Inside The FCT Area Council Elections
A Capital Votes
RESIDENTS of Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT) headed to the polls to elect chairpersons and councillors across six area councils — Abaji, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kwali, Kuje and the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC).
A total of 637 candidates from 17 political parties are contesting 68 positions — six chairmanship seats and 62 councillorship slots — across 62 wards. Of the 1,680,315 registered voters, 1,587,025 collected their Permanent Voter Cards and are eligible to vote at 2,822 polling units supported by 4,345 BVAS machines.
Among the major contenders are the APC, PDP, ADC, LP and SDP. In the last council election, the APC and PDP split the six chairmanship seats evenly. Only two incumbents — Christopher Maikalangu of AMAC and Abubakar Abdullahi of Abaji — are seeking re-election.
INEC had conducted a mock drill earlier in the month to test the BVAS, with officials expressing satisfaction over its performance.
Security Lockdown, Uneven Compliance
Ahead of the poll, the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, imposed a 22-hour restriction on movement, describing the vote as an opportunity for residents to shape the future of the capital.
Security presence was heavy in parts of the city centre, particularly in Garki and the Central Business District. Armed police enforced roadblocks early in the morning, allowing only voters through.
Yet compliance was uneven. In Kuje and parts of AMAC, motorcycles operated freely and businesses opened. Some residents admitted limited awareness of the election.
Early Morning: Delays and Determination
By 7:30 a.m., distribution of sensitive materials had begun in Garki. However, some ad-hoc staff reported delays and difficulty locating assigned polling units.
Across several AMAC polling centres, presiding officers struggled to set up booths due to logistical challenges, including delayed delivery of canopies. In some units, accreditation commenced late.
In contrast, polling units in Abaji and Kwali recorded early queues. At Sabon Tasha in Abaji, turnout was visibly strong, with voters waiting patiently for accreditation.
BVAS Performance and Technical Glitches
While many officials praised the speed of accreditation, isolated technical issues emerged. At a unit in Garki Village — located in the family compound of incumbent AMAC chairman Christopher Maikalangu — the BVAS reportedly malfunctioned intermittently despite high turnout.
Elsewhere, fingerprint failures were resolved through facial recognition.
Confusion over reshuffled polling units also frustrated voters. In Kwali, many struggled to locate their names after INEC split densely populated units into smaller clusters.
Voices from the Polling Units
Beyond logistics, voters articulated pressing local concerns.
In Kuje, primary school teacher Danladi Musa said he voted hoping for payment of salary arrears owed for over a year. A pregnant voter, Atamache Dauda, called for improved water supply and healthcare staffing.
In Abaji, Haruna Saidu lamented lack of electricity and potable water, urging whoever emerges victorious to prioritise infrastructure.
At 95, Isah in Kwali cast his ballot, saying he voted “for the future of my children.”
Allegations and Oversight
Observers from domestic and foreign missions monitored proceedings, alongside anti-corruption officials spotted at select units.
However, reports surfaced in parts of Kwali and Gwagwalada of party agents allegedly distributing money or recording voters’ names — claims not independently verified but reflective of persistent concerns about vote inducement in grassroots elections.
A Snapshot of Democratic Engagement
By late morning, turnout patterns varied sharply: high in rural and semi-urban wards, subdued in parts of central Abuja.
Though largely peaceful, the exercise underscored enduring challenges — voter apathy in urban centres, logistical inefficiencies, and allegations of inducement.
As ballots continue to be cast, the outcome will determine not just leadership across the six councils but also signal the health of grassroots democracy in Nigeria’s capital.
