By Ghazali Ibrahim
Voters across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) turned out on Saturday, February 21, 2026, to elect new chairmen and councillors for the six area councils in Abuja which is a key grassroots political exercise seen as a test of Nigeria’s newly enacted electoral law and a barometer ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The election, organised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), took place in the councils of Abaji, Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje and Kwali.
Residents cast their ballots across thousands of polling units to choose leaders who will manage local services like roads, water, sanitation and community healthcare for the next four years.
INEC reported a high Permanent Voter Card (PVC) collection rate, with more than 1.5 million registered voters prepared to participate. The polls featured dozens of candidates competing for six chairmanship and 62 councillorship seats.
However, only a small number of women were seen among the chairmanship contenders.
To ensure order and safety during voting, the Nigeria Police Force imposed a strict 12-hour restriction on movement across Abuja from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., allowing only accredited election officials and essential service workers to move freely. Checkpoints were set up across major access points to enforce compliance.
Security agencies, including the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), were deployed in thousands to monitor the exercise and maintain peace, with senior officials urging professionalism and caution to avoid accidental discharges of firearms.
Early reports from polling units in central Abuja and surrounding areas showed heavy security presence but relatively low voter turnout in the opening hours, with officials still distributing sensitive materials and setting up booths as voting commenced.
