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UPDATE: FCT Polls Peaceful, Low Voter Turnout Recorded

Unlike states, the FCT council election was handled by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

By Emmanuel Egobiambu
Updated February 21, 2026
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PHOTO: Channels TV/Taiwo Adesina.

 

The FCT council election was held on Saturday!

Residents of the nation’s capital have cast their ballots for chairmen and councillors in the six area councils of the Federal Capital Territory.

Police authorities and other security agencies were on the ground to beef up security across the area, while movement was restricted to ensure a hitch-free exercise.

READ ALSO: Police Impose 12-Hour Movement Restriction For FCT Council Elections

Security operatives gather for deployment in the nation’s capital.

 

Unlike states, the FCT council election was handled by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The commission says over 1.5 million voters have collected their permanent voter cards (PVCs) for the election. 

Channels Television brought you live updates about happenings in the FCT council election. Thank you for joining us. 

8:55 pm: INEC Begins Upload Of FCT Election Results On IReV Portal

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has started the upload of election results for the FCT council polls on the commission’s results viewing portal (IReV).

04: 30 pm: FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, says he didn’t impose curfew on the FCT for Saturday’s area council elections without the approval of President Bola Tinubu.

03: 43 pm: Another coalition of civil society organisations called Ballot Eye has also raised similar concerns on the last-minute change of voting stations for many potential voters, which its observers say led to many voters being disenfranchised
03: 21 pm: Sorting and counting of ballot papers have started

02: 50 pm: Sorting and counting of ballot papers has started at polling unit 002 in Sagwari Primary School, in the Bwari area council

02: 42 pm: Yiaga Africa has released its preliminary report on FCT area council polls, and has expressed reservations about the integrity of the ward coalition, which will begin shortly.

12:41 pm: Wike sets out to monitor FCT polls, orders traders to ‘Close Up’

FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.

 

As FCT residents set out to elect representatives at the area council level, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, is monitoring activities within the area.

Wike’s first point of call is the polling units in Lagos Street, Garki 2. While monitoring activities there, he noticed some traders who opened up for business and immediately directed them to close up and obey the electoral guidelines.

12:10 pm: The chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Joash amupitan is assuring residents of the FCT that their votes will count in the council poll, reiterating that the results would be electronically transmitted to the INEC result-viewing portal (IReV).

INEC Chairman, Joash Amupitan.

 

11:42 am: The INEC chairman makes his first stop at the Area 8 polling station, unit 016

11: 32 am: The INEC chairman, Josh Amupitan, and other officials of the commission are departing the headquarters of the commission in AMAC to monitor the FCT council elections.

10:53 am: Channels TV’s Lanre Lasisi reports that more voters are coming out, even though there had been complaints that it appeared that polling units were not working.

10:49 am:  There is a massive deployment of police personnel. There are a few cases of people who wanted to test the will of the law; such vehicles and motorbikes were impounded.

The only set of people allowed to embark on vehicular movement for now are security agencies, the media, election observers, essential service providers, and those with hospital emergencies. – Abayomi Shogunle, Commissioner of Police in charge of election monitoring.

10:07 am: Voting is ongoing in all 15 polling units in the Bwari Central Primary School.

09: 51 am: Electoral officers and voting materials have arrived at the
LEA Primary School, Sagwari, in the Bwari area council.

This voting area has 8 polling units. INEC officials here are still setting up their voting cubicles, before accreditation and voting will commence

There is a sizeable presence of security personnel, comprising the police, NSCDC officials, and the national drug law enforcement agency, at this centre.

9:21 am: The election has already commenced in some areas.

8:12 am: Polling units located in the school are already setting up.

INEC adhoc staff at a polling unit in Abuja for the FCT Area Council elections on Saturday, February 21, 2026.

 

8:09 am: The last vehicle carrying voting materials left the Registration Area Centre (RAC).

 

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