ABUJA, Nigeria — Voters in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) headed to the polls on Saturday to cast ballots in the Area Council elections, but early reports from across the territory painted a picture of sparse turnout, leaving election officials and political stakeholders concerned about citizen participation.
Across several local councils including Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Bwari and Kuje, correspondents observed that very few registered voters showed up in the early hours of the exercise. At some central city polling units in AMAC, officials reported only a handful of voters present well past the official opening time, despite materials and accreditation equipment being in place.
Electoral officials and security personnel were stationed at polling units before polls opened, with materials distributed early in districts like Kubwa and Durumi, but the anticipated crowds failed to materialise.
Some voters who did turn up expressed frustration over administrative issues. At the Durumi II polling unit, several citizens complained they were unable to find their names on the voters’ list, citing missing alphabetical sections of the register and leading to confusion among those hoping to vote.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) acknowledged the low turnout but emphasised that voting continued peacefully in most locations. FCT Minister Nyesom Wike said he was satisfied with the calm conduct of the poll, even as he noted limited voter presence in parts of the city centre.
Lawmakers and political figures also weighed in. FCT Senator Ireti Kingibe described the turnout as disappointing and suggested voter apathy may have been driven by alleged intimidation and long-standing disinterest in local council elections.
Former lawmaker Shehu Sani echoed similar sentiments, arguing that many Abuja residents showed a lack of interest in participating in the process.
Observers noted that this election marks a test for the implementation of the newly amended 2026 Electoral Act and serves as a preparatory stage ahead of the national polls scheduled for 2027. Civil society groups and election monitors had earlier predicted possible apathy, citing historical trends of low engagement in local elections.
Despite strong voter registration prior to the exercise INEC reported that over 94 percent of eligible voters in the FCT collected their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) ahead of the election turnout remained unexpectedly low on election day.
Security was generally tight across polling centres throughout Abuja, and voting largely proceeded without major outbreaks of violence. In some areas, ballot accreditation and casting operations were orderly and ongoing as the day progressed, with occasional increases in turnout observed later in the morning at selected units.
