The All Progressives Congress (APC) recorded early leads in several polling units across the Federal Capital Territory during Saturday’s Area Council elections, according to results uploaded on the Independent National Electoral Commission’s Result Viewing Portal.
As of 10:15 p.m., figures collated from uploaded results showed the APC ahead in key councils, though the exercise was characterised by low turnout and allegations of vote buying.
In Kwali Local Government Area, the APC polled 2,726 votes, ahead of the Peoples Democratic Party with 2,104 votes and the African Democratic Congress with 180 votes.
In Kuje Area Council, the APC secured 615 votes, followed by the PDP with 393 votes. The All Progressives Grand Alliance polled 146 votes, ADC 24 votes, and the New Nigeria Peoples Party five votes.
In the Abuja Municipal Area Council, the APC recorded 2,520 votes, while the ADC polled 750 votes and the PDP 115 votes.
In Gwagwalada Area Council, the PDP was in the lead with 2,019 votes, compared to the APC’s 1,779 votes and the ADC’s 115 votes.
The elections were conducted to fill six chairmanship and 62 councillorship seats across the FCT.
Widespread Voter Apathy
Despite the competitive results, turnout remained thin across most polling units.
In AMAC, for instance, only seven voters had cast their ballots at Polling Unit 006 in the City Centre Registration Area as of 9:50 a.m. At Kubwa Polling Unit 053, just 23 of 464 registered voters were accredited, representing less than five per cent turnout.
Across AMAC, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje, Abaji and Kwali, several polling units recorded single-digit or double-digit participation out of hundreds of registered voters.
The Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room observed that many residents in parts of AMAC were seen going about their normal activities during voting hours.
Its Co-Convenor, Celestine Odo, said, “Vote buying was observed in many polling units visited. In some places, it was openly done.”
He noted that although queues later formed in Kuje, Kwali, Gwagwalada and Abaji, overall participation remained low.
Yiaga Africa also criticised the turnout, stating that most polling units recorded poor voter participation despite a largely peaceful atmosphere.
Its Executive Director, Samson Itodo, cited administrative shortcomings such as late commencement of voting and missing materials as factors undermining the credibility of the process.
Beyond voter apathy, allegations of vote buying surfaced in parts of AMAC.
The Situation Room alleged that votes were traded for as much as ₦10,000 in some polling units in Gidan Mangoro Ward.
Operational lapses were also recorded. At Durumi I, voting reportedly commenced around 11 a.m. due to the late arrival of officials, while at Durumi II, some voters protested the omission of their names from the register.
Yiaga Africa further highlighted confusion stemming from the redistribution of voters to newly created polling units without adequate prior notice.
As collation progressed, the APC posted strong performances in parts of AMAC, including Garki and Kpegyi polling units, consolidating its early advantage in the chairmanship race.
However, the ADC secured victories in some polling units, while the PDP recorded dominant margins in select centres in Bwari, indicating a competitive contest across councils.
The ADC criticised the conduct of the polls and accused the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, of interfering by visiting polling units during voting.
In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party described the minister’s presence as “direct interference” capable of intimidating voters and alleged collaboration between APC agents and some security personnel in parts of the capital.
INEC continued uploading chairmanship results to the IReV portal as part of its transparency framework.
As of 9:30 p.m., 1,030 results had been uploaded from 1,401 polling units in AMAC; Kwali recorded 119 uploads out of 201 units; Kuje had 147 uploads from 262 units; Gwagwalada had 227 from 338; Bwari had 280 from 485; and Abaji had 72 from 135 polling units.
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