FCT poll: 1.5m voters decide as campaigns end

The Independent National Electoral Commission has said that over 1.5 million voters have collected their Permanent Voter Cards across the six area councils of the Federal Capital Territory ahead of the February 21, 2026, elections.

The announcement comes as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, declared Friday, February 20, 2026, a work-free day and imposed a restriction of movement from 8 pm on Friday until 6 pm on Saturday, ahead of the election.

The electoral body fixed February 21 to elect chairmen and councillors in the six area councils of the FCT.

On Thursday evening, political parties concluded their campaigns, urging residents to participate actively in the polls across the six FCT area councils.

Voters in Abuja Municipal Area Council, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje, Abaji and Kwali will head to the polls to elect chairmen and councillors.

A total of 68 positions are being contested, including six chairmanship seats and 62 councillorship roles.

In a statement signed by the National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Mr Muhammed Haruka, the commission disclosed that as of the close of collection on February 10, 2026, a total of 1,680,315 voters were registered in the FCT.

According to the statement, “Out of this figure, 1,587,025 PVCs have been collected, representing an overall collection rate of 94.4 per cent, while 93,290 PVCs remain uncollected.”

A breakdown of the figures across the six area councils shows a strong turnout in PVC collection.

The statement stated that in Abaji Area Council, 75,517 PVCs were collected out of 79,471 registered voters, representing a 95.0 per cent collection rate.

Bwari Area Council recorded 276,360 collected PVCs out of 295,711 registered voters, translating to 93.5 per cent.

Gwagwalada Area Council posted 196,184 collected PVCs out of 208,057 registered voters, representing 94.3 per cent, while Kuje Area Council recorded 144,109 collected PVCs out of 148,286 registered voters, reflecting a 97.2 per cent collection rate.

Kwali Area Council saw 99,774 PVCs collected out of 107,203 registered voters, representing 93.1 per cent.

In the Abuja Municipal Area Council, 795,081 PVCs were collected out of 841,587 registered voters, indicating a 94.5 per cent collection rate.

The commission noted that at the Registration Area level, several units recorded collection rates exceeding 99 per cent, demonstrating what it described as strong grassroots engagement across the territory.

It stated, “The commission commends voters in the FCT for their responsiveness and cooperation throughout the CVR and PVC collection exercises.

“The impressive figures recorded across the area councils indicate strong citizen readiness to participate in the electoral process.”

INEC reiterated that only duly registered voters in possession of valid PVCs would be allowed to vote on election day.

“The commission has put all necessary arrangements in place to ensure a free, fair and credible election,” the statement added.

In a special broadcast on national television and radio stations earlier on Thursday, Wike urged residents to participate in the polls.

His broadcast was contained in a press statement signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka.

Announcing the work-free day and movement restriction, Wike noted that they were approved by President Bola Tinubu to allow residents to travel to their communities and ensure smooth voting.

“With the approval of President Bola Tinubu, I hereby declare Friday, February 20, 2026, as a work-free day to enable the movement of residents to their various communities to participate in the elections.

“Similarly, the President has approved the restriction of movement within the FCT from 8pm on Friday, February 20, to 6pm on Saturday, February 21, 2026.

“Consequently, all security agencies are directed to ensure strict compliance with this directive,” he said.

Wike asked residents to actively participate in the election and exercise their rights.

He added, “To all FCT residents, I urge you to make your voice heard. Come out on Saturday, February 21, 2026 and vote for the candidates of your choice.

“Our prayer, as an administration, is that the elections will facilitate the emergence of such quality leaders that will contribute meaningfully to development, peace and prosperity in the FCT.

Together, let us build a brighter future for ourselves, our children, and our territory.”

The minister added, “The election of either new or returning chairmen and councillors for the six area councils is a momentous occasion, and I urge you to come out in your numbers to exercise your right to vote.

“I urge you to go to the polls with a sense of purpose and responsibility.

“As we exercise our democratic right, let us do so in an orderly and lawful manner. Let us respect the rules, respect each other, and respect the outcome of the election.

“We must show the world that we are a mature and responsible electorate, capable of conducting ourselves with dignity and decorum.”

The minister commended the President for signing the Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2026, saying it reflected a commitment to strengthening democratic institutions and ensuring free, fair, and transparent elections.

Meanwhile, ahead of the election, the Peoples Democratic Party chairmanship candidate for the Abuja Municipal Area Council, Zadna Dantani, on Thursday, withdrew from the race.

He then declared support for the All Progressives Congress candidate, Christopher Makaleng.

Dantani’s decision came less than 24 hours after the PDP chairmanship candidate for Bwari Area Council, Julius Adamu, stepped down for the APC candidate, Joshua Musa.

Addressing supporters, Dantani attributed his withdrawal to Wike’s intervention.

In a video sent to our correspondent by the media aide to the minister, Lere Olayinka, Dantani said, “My name is Hon Zadna Dantani, the chairmanship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the Abuja Municipal Area Council for Saturday’s Area Council elections.

“I want to sincerely appreciate everyone who supported us, and by the grace of God, we are doing it, not because of our personal interests.

“I am here to tell my people that as a candidate who is standing for this election, I have today, agreed based on the intervention of the Honourable Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike, who is our leader in the party and the leader in FCT, who has called my attention to let us know that this is a brotherhood election. I am also doing this in support of the good works of President Bola Tinubu.”

He described the election as one rooted in unity rather than rivalry.

In the letter addressed to INEC on February 18, 2026 and sighted by our correspondent, Dantani wrote, “I write to respectfully inform you that I, Hon. Zadna Dantani of Gosa Village along Airport Road FCT Abuja, a member and the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, have decided to voluntarily withdraw from contesting for the Chairmanship position of Abuja Municipal Area Council, in the forthcoming Area Council Elections which is scheduled to hold on 21st February, 2026, after due other consideration and thorough consultation with my Family and relevant stakeholders.”

FCT residents will determine winners – SDP

The 2023 presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party, Adewole Adebayo, on Thursday insisted that Wike cannot determine the outcome of Saturday’s FCT Area Council elections.

He made the declaration while campaigning in Apo, Abuja, for the SDP’s AMAC chairmanship candidate, Obinna Simon, popularly known as MC Tagwaye, who is widely recognised for mimicking the late former President Muhammadu Buhari.

Addressing supporters at his rally ground, Adebayo urged residents to resist any attempt to impose leaders from outside the FCT.

“In this city, given to us by God, written in our constitution as our capital city, we are the ones who will stay here. Government will come and go.

“So, on Saturday, let us use our fingers to thumbprint Doki, the horse and elect Obinna Simon ‘MC Tagwaye’ as our next AMAC chairman,” he said.

The former presidential candidate also criticised the administration of President Bola Tinubu and linked local governance issues in the FCT to broader national politics.

Culled from punch