INEC Announces APC as Winner in Five FCT Councils; PDP Takes Gwagwalada

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) secured five of the six chairmanship seats contested in the 2026 Area Council elections. The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) managed to claim just one chairmanship position, winning in the Gwagwalada Area Council.

INEC concluded the declaration of results on Sunday, one day after the polls closed on Saturday, February 21, 2026, across the six Area Councils, namely Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Abaji, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kwali, and Kuje.

The elections, which involved selecting chairmen and 62 councillors, recorded relatively low voter turnout in many areas, but not without some alleged intimidation, vote selling and buying, although some election observers said the polls were largely peaceful.

According to the results released by INEC APC, candidates won the Chairmanship seats in AMAC, Abaji, Bwari, Kwali, and Kuje, while PDP’s Mr. Mohammed Kasim emerged victorious in Gwagwalada Area Council, marking the opposition party’s only breakthrough in the capital territory.

PDP’s Mohammed Kasim polled 22,165 votes to defeat APC’s Yahaya Shehu, who received 17,788 votes. Other parties trailed significantly, with APGA securing 1,687 votes and ADC 1,366.

The Returning Officer of Gwagwalada Area Councils, Philip Akpen, declared Kasim the winner, stating he had “satisfied the requirements of the law” and was returned elected. The total valid votes stood at around 43,960, with rejected ballots at 1,521.

However, in the seat of the federal institutions, AMAC, APC was declared the winner with the re-election of incumbent Christopher Zakka Maikalang, who garnered a total of 40,295 votes out of 62,861 valid votes cast.

The Collation Officer, Andrew Abue, announced the result, noting Maikalangu’s compliance with legal standards. ADC’s Dr. Moses Paul came second with 12,109 votes, followed by PDP’s candidate, 3,398, SDP secured 2,185, and NNPP 1,694.

In Abaji Area Council, APC’s Umar Abdullahi Abubakar won convincingly with 15,536 votes, far ahead of PDP’s 4,547 votes and ADC’s minimal 37 votes.

Bwari Area Council saw APC’s Joshua Ishaku secure victory with 18,466 votes. Returning Officer Mohammed Nurudeen declared him elected, with ADC polling 4,254 votes and ZLP 3,515.

Kwali Area Council went to APC’s Nuhu Daniel, who polled 17,032 votes against PDP’s Haruna Pai’s 8,575 votes.

The final declaration came in the Kuje Area Council amid prior controversy, where the PDP had accused INEC of delaying results from two wards, alleging potential manipulation due to its narrow lead in those areas. Despite the claims, INEC proceeded and declared APC’s Danjuma Shekwolo Samuel the winner with 17,269 votes. Returning Officer Prof. Nkiruka Odoh affirmed that Shekwolo had met all legal requirements and was returned elected.

The results reflect the APC’s continued dominance in the FCT, bolstered by strong performances in urban and semi-urban councils, while PDP’s isolated win in Gwagwalada highlights pockets of opposition support in more rural or peripheral areas.