Early collated results from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections held on Saturday, February 21, 2026, show a competitive contest with the All Progressives Congress (APC) leading in several councils.
The exercise, monitored across six area councils, was also held alongside bye-elections in Kano and Rivers States.
Observers and officials described the voting as generally peaceful and orderly, although turnout varied significantly across polling units.
According to early figures and information from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Result Viewing Portal (IReV), the APC posted strong results in many polling units in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Garki, Gwarimpa and Nyanya.
In parts of Kwali and Kuje, the APC also recorded commanding margins in both chairmanship and councillorship contests.
In some polling units, opposition parties made notable showings. The African Democratic Congress (ADC) secured early victories at specific locations, including a polling unit in AMAC where its chairmanship and councillorship candidates outpolled APC rivals in a low-turnout unit.
At the same time, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) recorded strong results in areas such as Gwagwalada, where early returns placed its candidates ahead of rivals in both chairmanship and councillorship races.
Observers and election monitors reported that voter turnout was generally low across many polling units. In several areas of AMAC, voters queued in single or low double digits for much of election day, reflecting thinner participation than might be expected in council-level polls.
Some polling units experienced delayed openings in the morning, with election officials arriving later than scheduled at certain locations, which affected early voting patterns.
Across the FCT, the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) was reported to have worked efficiently at most locations, enabling voter accreditation and ballot casting, though isolated equipment malfunctions were recorded in some units.
INEC officials and security agencies described the elections as peaceful and orderly. The INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, said accreditation and voting processes proceeded smoothly in many areas and that most polling units opened successfully and on time.
Security presence across the FCT was reported as substantial, with personnel from the Nigeria Police Force, Civil Defence, Immigration and Fire Services deployed to maintain calm and deter disruptions.
In a few locations where tension arose, such as disagreements between party agents, security operatives intervened to restore order quickly.
Civil society groups monitoring the polls, including Yiaga Africa, commended the generally peaceful conduct of the elections and the opportunity for voters to cast ballots.
However, they noted concerns about isolated incidents of inducement and the low turnout, recommending enforcement of electoral laws on voter influence where appropriate.
Concurrent bye-elections in Rivers and Kano States were also reported to be dominated by the APC in early returns, especially in areas where opposition parties did not field candidates on the ballot.
