Low Turnout, Open Roads Mark Start Of FCT Area Council Polls
By SANI BATURE
RESIDENTS of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) turned out to vote on Saturday for chairmanship and councillorship candidates across the six area councils, but large sections of the city centre recorded noticeable voter apathy as the exercise commenced.
The election, conducted across Abaji, Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje and Kwali, began amid reports of low awareness among residents, particularly within the Abuja metropolis.
Earlier in the week, the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, had declared a work-free day and imposed a 22-hour restriction of movement from 8 p.m. on Friday to 6 p.m. on Saturday to ensure a smooth electoral process. In a broadcast, the minister urged residents to comply fully with the directive to guarantee security and order.
However, observations across major routes, especially within AMAC through Airport Road toward Gwagwalada, showed vehicles and commercial transport operators moving freely. Markets and businesses in several parts of the city centre also appeared open, suggesting partial or weak enforcement of the movement restriction.
Some residents who spoke to reporters said they were either unaware that area council elections were taking place or did not consider the exercise significant enough to disrupt their weekend plans.
“I only heard about it this morning,” a commuter along Airport Road said, adding that he had not seen any strong public mobilisation ahead of the polls.
Mixed Compliance Across Area Councils
In contrast, Kwali and Abaji area councils recorded relatively better compliance with the restriction directive. Shops remained closed in parts of the councils, and voters were seen assembling at polling units early in the day.
At Pilot Science Nursery and Primary School in Kwali, which hosts a cluster of polling units, officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were present as early as 7:00 a.m. with election materials.
Mrs. Peace Esan, one of the officials, disclosed that electoral staff slept at the polling centre under security watch to prevent delays. Accreditation of voters commenced at about 8:30 a.m., with queues forming shortly after.
The elections are being conducted in 2,822 polling units across 62 wards in the six area councils. While the process appeared orderly in areas visited, the level of participation—particularly within central Abuja—raised questions about civic engagement and voter mobilisation in local government elections within the nation’s capital.
