₦airaland Forum

Low turnout and vote buying marred the Saturday council election in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, with many residents expressing disillusionment on the entire process.

DAILY POST reports that many eligible voters stayed away from the polls, citing frustration with the political process and a lack of trust in the electoral system.

From Jikwoyi and Karu to Bwari, Gwagwalada, Nyanya, Mpape, Deidei, Kuje, Kwali, Lugbe, Durumi, and beyond, turnout remained abysmally low.

The exercise was also heavily criticized, especially by opposition figures for lacking transparency, with allegations of vote buying and selling taking the center stage in some parts of the territory.

Aside from the pervasive voter apathy, the election was also overshadowed by logistical failures, technical malfunctions, disenfranchisement claims, sporadic violence, and missing party logos on some ballots.

Vote buying

Despite warnings by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and security agencies, there were allegations of vote buying in some parts of Gwagwalada, Bwari and other Area Councils.

The situation, according to agents representing Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and Young Progressives Party, YPP, at the Better Life, UBE and Kotangora polling units in Gwagwalada were worrisome.

The agents alleged that some All Progressives Congress, APC, chieftains stormed several polling units with cash to induce voters.

DAILY POST reports that parts of Bwari Area Council, including Ushafa, Peyi, among others also witnessed such unscrupulous activities by party agents.

A YPP agent, Momoh Abdul told our correspondent that the ruling party members were hellbent in the alleged plan to rig the election in favour of their candidates in the six area councils.

He alleged that votes were being bought for amounts ranging from N500 to N3,000, depending on negotiation between party representatives and voters.

Violence

Violence was recorded in some polling units across the territory, especially the Bwari Area Council.

DAILY POST reports that voters in Bwari town near Zenith Bank/JAMB office fled when violence erupted in the area over alleged vote buying.

One Mrs. Omeza reported live on Nigeria Info 95.1 FM that security officers fired teargas on both voters and some journalists covering the exercise.

They teargassed us, they didn’t want us to vote. People are crying, people that are fasting are being teargassed and harassed.

“They just managed to come out, all of them have gone back and they don’t want to come out anymore”, she alleged.

Similarly, in Kuje’s Junior Secondary School Kayada, an officer of the Department of State Services, DSS, escaped death after over 50 youths violently attacked him.

He was reportedly manhandled for over five minutes without security aid.

He alleged that his cell phone was seriously damaged while his wallet was stolen during the attack.

Also in LEA Primary school Ushafa, Bwari Area Council, violence broke out when voters were allegedly sharing money.

Our correspondent, who witnessed the drama, reports that supporters of the Zenith Labour Party also clashed with their APC counterpart over alleged intimidation.

Wike’s presence intimidated voters

Some residents of the territory alleged that the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike deliberately stormed some of the polling units to intimidate opposition.

One of the voters, who is also a member of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Mohammed Salisu told DAILY POST that the Minister “was moving from one polling unit to another to intimidate voters”.

“Why was he going to polling units all in the name of monitoring elections? Is he eligible? He is not an eligible voter so what is he doing in polling units?

“Anywhere he goes, you will see the APC supporters screaming and making all kinds of notices to intimate people that aren’t voting for them. This is not right.

It was another campaign because wherever he goes, he talks to his supporters. This is not right but those who should act have been bought over”, Mohammed lamented.

Meanwhile, as of the time of filing this report, the final results of the exercise are being awaited.

edogu:
This is commendable.

Putindbutt:
After losing, their media wing will start writing rubbish to console themselves. But if they win, they will say it's victory for democracy. Bunch of losers!

SixSeven:
Interestingly, APC did this while in opposition. Isn't that funny

Edoreborn:
This politicians are not different from armed robbers...Abi what do we call this? Person will brag on national tv that he won an election for somebody against the people's wish and we all overlook it as a normal naija thing...O ga o..

Are we going to continue like ds?

Putindbutt:
Show us where APC was a sore loser as an opposition?. You're a learner.

SixSeven:
It is. INEC should categorize these results into wards and LGAs and then State. There is really no need for any agent. All parties and every Nigerian can have their own electoral monitoring unit by counting and adding themselves.

Idoko619:
The fact that you asked this question shows that you're a hypocrite.

APC definitely can't swallow their own pills despite their ineptitude.

Idoko619:
The fact that you asked this question shows that you're a hypocrite.

APC definitely can't swallow their own pills despite their ineptitude.

Putindbutt:
Show us where APC was a sore loser as an opposition?. You're a learner.

SixSeven:
Don't worry. People like you have come and gone. Time changes yesterday. It was a time here on NL that it was the PDP boys taunting the others. Now, it's APC. Time is a patient gentleman.

Putindbutt:
Abeg shift.... xxxxxxxxxxxx

Putindbutt:
Show us where APC were crying foul after losing an election, show us where they were attacking INEC or Judiciary when they lose as an opposition?. Even we know that PDP conducted the worst elections ever in history.

I can't blame you kids that only started following politics in 2015.

Wickedfact:
See painment.
You are just starting. Other elections will come. Don't mobilise, be making noise online.

Nigerians in the FCT celebrate their ultimate victory over the marauding and ever sorrowful ADC pic.twitter.com/YaYVOSU25O

— Ayekooto (@DeeOneAyekooto) February 22, 2026