iDeemlawfulVoter apathy, delayed commencement of voting and allegations of vote-trading yesterday characterised the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja Area Council elections and bye-elections in Kano and Rivers states, even as the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and security agencies described the exercises as peaceful and orderly.
Across the FCT, observers noted late openings in several polling units, low turnout in many centres, and instances of vote-buying ranging from ¦ 1,000 to ¦ 10,000 per voter. However, there were no widespread reports of violence, and voting progressed calmly in most monitored areas.
At press time, the All Progressives Congress, APC, according to early results on the INEC Result Viewing Portal, IReV, was gaining the upper hand in the fierce contest for Abuja. It secured victories in some polling units in AMAC, Garki, Gwarimpa and Nyanya, among others. Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, took an early lead in Gwagwalada.
The African Democratic Congress, ADC, which currently holds the sole Abuja Senate seat through Senator Ireti Kingibe, recorded gains in Kubwa and Bwari, winning some polling units. The FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike of the PDP, who is supporting APC candidates in the polls, engaged in a war of words with Senator Kingibe as voting continued, asserting that the outcome would reveal “who is who.”
MOST READ ARTICLES
In Kano, in the absence of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, backed by Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the APC, now aligned with Governor Abba Yusuf, was heading towards victory at press time. Governor Yusuf recently defected from the NNPP to the APC.
Similarly, the APC dominated proceedings in Rivers where the PDP, ADC and LP were not on the ballot.
The elections covered six area councils and councillorship seats in Abuja, two state assembly seats in Rivers and two state assembly positions in Kano.
CSO Situation Room: Votes sold for N10,000 in Abuja
The Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, a coalition of over 70 civil society organisations, in its interim report jointly signed by its two Co-Conveners, Mma Odi and Celestine Odo, criticised what it termed “relatively late” commencement of polls in many FCT polling units, with an average opening time of 9:15 a.m.
The group stated that vote buying was observed in several locations, including PU008, 056, 057 and 058 in Gidan Mangoro Ward of AMAC, where votes were allegedly traded for as much as ¦ 10,000.
“In some other places, vote buying was discreet but still observed,” the group stated.
While acknowledging early commencement in parts of Kwali Area Council, the Situation Room said late arrival of INEC officials and materials delayed voting elsewhere.
It also reported confusion among voters whose polling units were relocated at short notice. Though some voters received text notifications from INEC, many were unable to confirm their new locations before election day.
On accreditation, the group said the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, BVAS, functioned efficiently in most polling units, with an average processing time of about one minute. However, isolated glitches were reported in parts of Gwagwalada and Navy Town.
Security presence was described as “significant and professional,” with personnel drawn from the police, civil defence, immigration and fire services. In a few areas where minor intimidation occurred, security operatives quickly restored calm.
The group, however, decried the absence of assistive materials such as braille ballot guides and magnifying glasses in most units, including Karimajiji disability colony.
Yiaga Africa Flags Vote Buying, Low Turnout
Election observer group, Yiaga Africa, also commended the peaceful conduct of the polls but raised concerns over vote buying and low voter turnout.
In a preliminary statement signed by its Executive Director, Samson Itodo, and Director of Programmes, Cynthia Mbamalu, the group said voters were generally able to cast their ballots without widespread disruption.
However, it expressed concern over voter inducement and urged security agencies to enforce provisions of the Electoral Act criminalising vote trading.
Mixed turnout, delays in FCT
In Abuja, late arrival of polling officials disrupted early voting in Apo, Lugbe, Nyanya and Karu.
At the Federal Government Boys College, Apo, voting had not commenced as of 9:34 a.m. Similar delays were recorded in Lugbe and Nyanya, where voters who arrived as early as 7 a.m. waited for hours.
Conversely, areas such as Kurudu and Army Estate saw early deployment of materials and relatively higher turnout.
At some polling units, voters protested the omission of their names from the register, alleging possible manipulation. INEC officials assured them that investigations would be conducted.
Party agents accuse APC of inducement
Tension briefly erupted at Polling Unit 035 in Nyanya after agents of opposition parties accused the APC of offering N1,000 to voters.
Police and civil defence personnel strengthened security following heated exchanges. An opposition agent alleged that suspected intermediaries approached voters on the queue with cash inducements.
The confrontation subsided after security intervention, and voting resumed.
Allegations of vote buying have remained a recurring feature of elections in Nigeria, despite legal sanctions outlined in the Electoral Act.
Process orderly, efficient, peaceful – Amupitan
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the FCT elections, describing them as orderly and peaceful.
“You can see for yourself that the election is orderly and very efficient. The BVAS is working effectively,” he said after monitoring polling units in AMAC.
He noted that accreditation took less than five seconds in many locations and disclosed that as of 10:30 a.m., 99 per cent of polling units had opened.
On the reported arrest of a journalist, the chairman said INEC intervened promptly, leading to the individual’s release.
INEC pledged further improvements ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Wike, Kingibe trade words
FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, dismissed criticisms over election-eve movement restrictions, insisting the directive had presidential approval.
“At the end of the election, when the results come out, then we will know who is who,” he said, in apparent response to remarks attributed to FCT Senator Ireti Kingibe.
Wike observed low turnout in the city centre but described participation in satellite towns as encouraging. He commended INEC and security agencies for maintaining peace.
Massive security deployment
The Nigeria Police Force confirmed extensive deployment of personnel across the FCT.
The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, approved the operational order, officials said, to deter disruptions and ensure smooth conduct.
Police authorities assured residents of adequate security, urging voters to exercise their civic rights without fear.
Rivers: Low turnout in Ahoada, Khana
In Rivers State, low turnout marked the State House of Assembly bye-elections in Ahoada East Constituency II and Khana Constituency II.
INEC conducted the polls to fill vacant seats in the state legislature. Though voting began around 9 a.m. in most units, only a few voters had turned out by early afternoon.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner, Prof. Gabriel Yomere, described the exercise as peaceful and orderly but expressed concern over voter apathy.
He attributed the low turnout to factors beyond INEC’s control, noting that the commission had undertaken extensive sensitisation.
Major opposition parties, including the PDP, ADC and LP, were absent from the contest, leaving the APC and smaller parties to compete.
APC candidate Napoleon Ukalikpe, after voting in Ahoada East, commended what he described as “massive turnout” and peaceful conduct.
Kano: Electoral officers wait for voters
In Kano State, electoral officers were seen waiting for voters in several polling units in Ungogo and Kano Municipal constituencies.
Only a handful of voters had cast ballots hours after accreditation commenced in some areas.
The INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in Kano, Amb. Abdu Zango, attributed the low turnout to Ramadan and public perception that the election featured limited candidates.
“As far as security is concerned, it is no issue. It’s peaceful and violence-free,” he said.
Eighteen candidates from nine political parties contested the two vacant seats created by the death of former lawmakers.
PDP’s bright spot in Bwari
In Bwari Area Council of the FCT, PDP presidential aspirant Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim delivered his polling unit for the party, recording a sweeping victory at Big Cele Settlement, Dutse Alhaji.
Official results from Polling Unit 076 showed the PDP winning decisively in both chairmanship and councillorship contests.
Official results from Polling Unit 076 in Big Cele Settlement showed a commanding performance by the PDP in both the chairmanship and councillorship elections.
In the chairmanship contest, the PDP secured 74 votes, while the APC polled 2 votes and the ADC also garnered 2 votes.
Similarly, in the councillorship election, the PDP recorded 75 votes, with the APC scoring 4 votes and the ADC polling 3 votes. Other political parties failed to secure any votes at the unit.
We took FCT Polls like a national election – APC
Meanwhile, the ruling APC stated that its extensive preparation for the FCT Area Council elections mirrored the scale of a national contest, leaving no room for dispute over the eventual outcome.
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and Secretary of the APC Campaign Council, Benjamin Kalu, said the party’s victory would stem from hard work and a “popular campaign” anchored on the administration’s infrastructure record.
Representing Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, who chairs the 138-member APC FCT Campaign Council, Kalu, alongside the Minister of State in the FCT, Dr Mariya Mahmood, and other council members, conducted a comprehensive observation tour across the capital.
The delegation visited key locations, including the Presidential Villa Polling Unit, the Agura Hotel axis and the Garki village polling unit of the APC AMAC candidate, Christopher Maikalangu.
Addressing the media at the APC Situation Room located at the Kwara Governor’s Lodge in Asokoro, Kalu expressed confidence that the party’s feedback mechanism, which monitored over 2,000 polling units, reflected strong commitment to democratic accountability.
“We didn’t take it like it is just a municipal or council election. We took it like it is a national election, with all structures in place as a serious-minded party. Because our infrastructure campaigned for us, I don’t think if we win today, anybody will have anything to complain about, because we have really worked hard”, he declared.
Rivers bye-election orderly, peaceful – INEC REC
The Resident Electoral Commissioner in Rivers State, Prof. Gabriel Yomere, described the state House of Assembly constituencies bye-elections for Ahoada East and Khana as peaceful and orderly.
Yomere made the remarks while speaking to journalists during an assessment tour of voting activities in wards 8 and 3 in Khana Constituency II.
He stated that the exercise progressed without incidents of violence, describing the development as commendable and reassuring.
Commenting on voter apathy observed in some areas, Yomere said INEC should not be blamed, stressing that the commission fulfilled its responsibilities by conducting adequate publicity and necessary preparations ahead of the election.
Yomere expressed concern over voter apathy but commended efforts by INEC and civil society organisations in voter sensitisation before the election.
The PDP, ADC and LP were absent from the February 21 bye-elections in Rivers State. The parties contesting the two seats were AA, APC, NNPP, YPP and ZLP.
The APC fielded Wike’s loyalists – Napoleon Ukalikpe for the Ahoada-East Constituency II seat, while Mrs. Bulabari Henrietta Loolo, widow of the former lawmaker, contested for the Khana Constituency II.
Delta APC conducts peaceful LGA congress, elects executives by consensus
The All Progressives Congress, APC, in Delta State, on Saturday successfully conducted its Local Government Area, LGA, Congress across the 25 council areas of the state, with party executives emerging through consensus in a peaceful and coordinated exercise.
The congress, which recorded impressive turnout, was monitored by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, security agencies, party officials and members of the media.
Members of the APC National Committee assigned to Delta State were earlier received at the party secretariat in Asaba by the State Chairman, Elder Omeni Sobotie.
He commended the committee for the successful conduct of the ward congress and urged strict adherence to party guidelines in overseeing the LGA Congress.
Speaking on behalf of the committee, its Secretary, Hon. Simon Atigwe, assured members that their mission was to ensure a transparent and inclusive process that would strengthen unity and internal harmony within the party.
Atigwe, who addressed journalists at the congress venue in Asaba, Oshimili South Local Government Area, after monitoring the exercise across the three senatorial districts, expressed satisfaction with participation levels and orderly conduct in all the local government areas visited.
He described Delta as a special state for the APC, noting the peaceful atmosphere and adequate security arrangements.
Chairman of Oshimili South Local Government Council, Dr. Kelvin Ezenyili, described the exercise as rancour-free, stressing that executives emerged through genuine consensus and affirmation.
In Oshimili North at Akwukwu-Igbo, party leaders including Hon. Frank Esenwa, Hon. Innocent Esewezie, Chief Patrick Ukah and Mr. Olisa Ifeajika commended the peaceful conduct of the congress, describing the high turnout as a reflection of stakeholders’ endorsement of the consensus arrangement.
In Uvwie Local Government Area, Sylvester Oghenewede emerged as Chairman of the APC. In his acceptance speech, he pledged to promote unity and strengthen the party structure. The outgoing chairman, Wilfred Emeleji, congratulated the new executive and assured them of his support.
Meanwhile, Oluyole Local Government Area of Oyo State moved to fulfil its pledge of tripling its votes for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 election with the emergence of Prince Dotun Oladipupo as the new chairman of the APC in the local government area.
A party chieftain and former council chairman in the local government, Alhaji Kehinde Olaosebikan, made the declaration shortly after the conclusion of the local government congress held at Olomi Primary School on Saturday.
While congratulating the new chairman and his executives, Olaosebikan expressed satisfaction that the party elected a popular, competent and capable leader with the skills required to enhance performance across the local government.
The former council boss, who earlier pledged that the local government would triple its votes in 2027, said the election of Prince Oladipupo would ease the realisation of that promise.
His words: “ Our new chairman is a square peg in a square hole. He is a seasoned politician, a thoroughbred party man, an excellent team player, and a man of the people. He is competent, capable, and has all it takes to lead the party effectively and significantly improve the performance of our party, particularly at the polls.
Olaosebikan thanked APC leaders and members in the local government for their support and steadfastness in ensuring that committed party members were elected into the executive.
Elected alongside Prince Dotun Oladipupo were Alhaji Mumeen Oriade, Secretary; Kikelomo Akinleye, Woman Leader; Tunde Garuba, Youth Leader; Saheed Akilapa, Publicity Secretary, among others.