The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has constituted a legal team to challenge the outcome of Saturday’s Area Council elections in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), following the sweeping victory recorded by the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Results declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission showed that the APC won five of the six chairmanship seats, securing victories in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Abaji, Bwari, Kwali and Kuje. The PDP clinched the lone chairmanship seat in Gwagwalada.
In a statement on Sunday by its National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, the PDP congratulated its successful candidates but alleged widespread irregularities, including intimidation of voters and manipulation of results.
The party said its legal challenge would be led by National Legal Adviser Shafi Bara’u and urged aggrieved candidates to take prompt action.
The party further cited voter apathy and alleged vote-buying, warning that the conduct of the poll could foreshadow future elections if reforms are not implemented.
APC dominates councils
In AMAC, APC candidate Christopher Maikalangu polled 40,295 votes out of 62,861 valid votes cast to defeat his closest rivals.
In Bwari, Joshua Ishaku secured victory with 18,466 votes, while Umar Abubakar won Abaji with 15,535 votes.
Similarly, APC candidates Nuhu Daniel and Danjuma Shekwolo emerged winners in Kwali and Kuje, respectively. The PDP’s only win came in Gwagwalada, where Mohammed Kasim defeated the APC candidate Yahaya Shehu.
INEC addresses concerns
INEC disclosed that more than 239,000 voters participated in the election, representing about 15 percent of the 1.68 million registered voters.
The commission denied claims that voters were migrated to new polling units, explaining that “split polling units” were created near existing centres to reduce congestion.
The commission also reported that 93 percent of polling unit results had been uploaded to its Result Viewing Portal and attributed delays in announcing the Kuje result to difficult terrain affecting collation.
EFCC arrests suspects for electoral offences
Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission arrested 20 suspects across the FCT for alleged electoral offences, including vote-buying and obstruction of law enforcement officers.
The agency said one suspect was caught with ₦13.5 million near a polling unit in Kwali, while arrests were also made in Abaji, Gwagwalada and Kuje. The total sum recovered stood at ₦17.2 million.
Tinubu, Wike hail poll outcome
President Bola Tinubu congratulated the winners and praised the peaceful conduct of the elections. He also commended FCT Minister Nyesom Wike for his leadership in the territory.
Wike described the exercise as a reflection of residents’ commitment to democracy, adding that the outcome clarified the country’s political landscape.
Atiku raises concern over turnout
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar warned that low voter turnout indicated shrinking democratic space and declining public confidence in the electoral process.
He urged opposition forces to unite to safeguard democracy.
Meanwhile, PDP chieftain Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim said the party’s performance signals a resurgence ahead of the 2027 general elections, citing continued grassroots support despite internal challenges.
The FCT elections were conducted to fill six chairmanship and 62 councillorship seats across the territory.
