FCT Council Poll Results showed the All Progressives Congress (APC) taking an early lead Saturday night as voter apathy marred area council elections across Abuja.
Figures uploaded to the Independent National Electoral Commission Results Viewing Portal (IReV) by 10:15 p.m. indicated APC dominance in key councils. In Kwali, the APC polled 2,726 votes, ahead of the Peoples Democratic Party (2,104) and the African Democratic Congress (180).
In Kuje, APC secured 615 votes, PDP followed with 393, while APGA, ADC and NNPP trailed. In Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), APC recorded 2,520 votes, ADC 750 and PDP 115. Gwagwalada, however, tilted toward the PDP with 2,019 votes against APC’s 1,779.
The elections were held to fill six chairmanship and 62 councillorship seats across AMAC, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje, Abaji and Kwali. Yet turnout was thin. Several polling units recorded single-digit votes despite hundreds of registered voters.
At City Centre Polling Unit 006 in AMAC, only seven voters had cast ballots by 9:50 a.m. In Kubwa Unit 053, just 23 of 464 registered voters were accredited.
Civil society observers flagged concerns. The Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room cited widespread apathy and alleged vote buying of up to N10,000 in parts of AMAC. Yiaga Africa reported administrative lapses, including late arrival of officials and missing materials, though voting remained largely peaceful.
The ADC accused FCT Minister Nyesom Wike of interfering by visiting polling units. The party described his presence as intimidating. Wike’s aide, Lere Olayinka, dismissed the claim, insisting the minister acted within his powers as chief security officer of the FCT.
As collation continued, INEC reported steady uploads across councils, with over 1,000 results already reflected on the portal in AMAC alone.
Despite operational hiccups and low turnout, the FCT Council Poll Results point to a competitive race, with the APC holding a narrow but visible edge in several councils.
