When tear gas drifted across Kuchako Polling Unit in Kuje during the Federal Capital Territory Area Council elections, Blessing Yakubu hesitated before running. The 34 year old hairdresser had closed her roadside salon to vote, hoping her ballot would count. By evening, television reports described the polls as largely peaceful. “Peaceful for who?” she later asked.
Across the six area councils Abaji, AMAC, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje and Kwali voters reported delays, inducement and in some locations disruption. Official results showed the All Progressives Congress winning five of the six chairmanship seats, with the Peoples Democratic Party taking Gwagwalada.
But beneath the results, concerns mounted.
In Gwagwa, an agent of the African Democratic Congress, Musa Adamu, was reportedly bed to death during election day tensions, casting a shadow over the exercise.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission said it arrested 20 suspects across the FCT with over N17.2 million allegedly meant for vote buying. Observers estimated turnout at about 15 per cent of 1.68 million registered voters, a figure many described as troubling.
The Independent National Electoral Commission maintained that between 93 and 97 per cent of results were uploaded to its IReV portal, though some uploads were delayed. Civil society groups including Yiaga Africa and the CLEEN Foundation cited logistical lapses, voter apathy and security concerns.
Human rights lawyer Chidi Odinkalu delivered a stark verdict, saying the polls exposed weaknesses that could undermine trust ahead of 2027.
For voters like Blessing, belief in the system is fragile. “I will think about it,” she said when asked if she would vote again.
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