Observers, political actors and civil society groups have highlighted challenges in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections, including delays, disruptions and low turnout. As potential early warning signals for Nigeria’s 2027 general elections, sources say.
The FCT Area Council elections on Saturday in Abaji, AMAC, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje and Kwali were followed by bye‑elections in Kano and Rivers states.
Official results showed the All Progressives Congress (APC) winning five of six FCT chairmanship seats and sweeping the bye‑elections where opposition parties were largely absent.
Reports and accounts from across the territory indicated that thousands of voters encountered delays at polling units, confusion over result sheets and disruptions during the electoral process.
In Kuje, tear gas was used at a polling unit as voting was underway, prompting voters to scatter, according to an eyewitness account included in a Vanguard report.
In Gwagwa, an African Democratic Congress (ADC) polling agent, identified as Musa Adamu, was stabbed to death during an election‑day incident, according to accounts from the community.
Election observer groups documented logistical challenges, including late arrival of officials and electoral materials at multiple polling units, some opening after 10 a.m. or near noon, as well as issues with equipment and missing names on voter registers.
In Kano’s bye‑elections, several major opposition parties, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the NNPP, boycotted the polls, citing failures by the electoral umpire to publish candidate names and asserting procedural problems.
The absence of major opposition parties and minimal opposition presence in many FCT wards led to contests that, observers said, appeared competitive in form but lopsided in substance.
The Inter‑Party Advisory Council (IPAC) said the elections exposed “serious credibility gaps,” including alleged vote buying and voter apathy that, it said, undermined public confidence in the process.
The ADC pointed to technical and security concerns, including disruptions to the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal and reports of intimidation in parts of the FCT.
The PDP described the local council polls as a possible foreshadowing of the 2027 general elections if changes are not made, citing loss of faith in outcomes conducted under the current legal framework.
A representative of the Obidient Movement linked low turnout to administrative decisions, including changes to polling unit locations that he said were not communicated to voters.
Civil society voices, including the Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED), warned that such issues represent a democratic deficit that could affect public trust in the electoral process ahead of 2027.
The challenges and reactions following the FCT Area Council elections add to ongoing discussions on electoral integrity and preparedness for the 2027 general elections.
Stakeholders are emphasising the need to address logistical, security and participation concerns in future electoral processes.
