Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have taken 20 individuals into custody over alleged electoral misconduct during the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) area council elections held on February 21, 2026.

The anti-graft agency disclosed that more than ₦17 million suspected to have been earmarked for vote buying was recovered during the operation.

In a statement shared on its official X (formerly Twitter) account on Sunday, the commission said the arrests were carried out across several area councils in the FCT on election day.

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According to the EFCC, two suspects were picked up in Abaji, nine in Gwagwalada, four in Kuje and four in Kwali. The offences cited include vote buying, vote selling and obstruction of election officials.

The commission stated that a total of ₦17,218,700 was intercepted in connection with the alleged offences. It added that one suspect was apprehended in Kwali with ₦13.5 million found inside a vehicle parked close to a polling unit.

“Operatives of the EFCC on Saturday, February 21, 2026, arrested 20 suspects for various electoral offences during the FCT local government elections,” the statement read, noting that investigations are ongoing and the suspects will be prosecuted upon completion of inquiries.

The elections were conducted across the six area councils in the territory — Abaji, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje, Kwali and the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC).

Observers monitoring the exercise reported instances of inducement at some polling centres. The Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD-West Africa) documented alleged cash offers ranging between ₦1,000 and ₦5,000 per voter in parts of Gwagwalada and Kuje.

Final results released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Sunday indicated that the All Progressives Congress (APC) secured five of the six chairmanship seats, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) claimed one.