A civil society organization, YIAGA Africa, has released its preliminary report on the 2026 Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections, highlighting low voter turnout, logistical challenges, and instances of vote buying across polling units.
The elections, conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), were held for the position of chairman in the six area councils of the FCT, as well as 62 councillorship seats. YIAGA Africa said it deployed trained and accredited roving observers from 7:30 a.m. to monitor key aspects of the voting process, including opening procedures, accreditation, voting, and counting.
The civic group reported that while the elections were largely peaceful and voters were generally allowed to exercise their franchise without disruption, voter turnout was low at most polling units. Observers noted that logistical delays, particularly in the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), contributed to late openings at several locations. In some wards, polling officials were still arranging materials and organizing the voting environment as late as 9:00 a.m., with accreditation and voting starting around 10:00 a.m.
YIAGA Africa also highlighted administrative challenges, including the relocation of polling units without timely communication to voters, missing essential voting materials such as voter registers, ink pads, and voting cubicles in some units, and early closure of certain polling units before the official 2:30 p.m. closing time.
The report further noted that heavy security deployment in some locations restricted the movement of accredited observers and, in some cases, created barriers for voters attempting to access polling units.
Vote buying remained a concern, with observers documenting multiple incidents despite prior assurances from INEC and security agencies to curb the practice. Yiaga Africa emphasized that these illicit practices underscore the continued vulnerability of the electoral process to monetary inducement.
The preliminary findings underscore the need for improved logistical planning, effective communication with voters, and strict enforcement of electoral guidelines to ensure transparency, fairness, and greater citizen participation in future elections.
