The All Progressives Congress (APC) has significantly strengthened its political dominance in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) after securing victory in five out of six area council chairmanship seats in the February 21, 2026 Area Council elections.
The results, announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) late Saturday night and confirmed on Sunday, February 22, 2026, represent a major consolidation of power for the ruling party in the nation’s capital just over a year before the 2027 general elections.
Breakdown of Results
Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) — APC
Abaji Area Council — APC
Bwari Area Council — APC
Gwagwalada Area Council — APC
Kuje Area Council — APC
Kwali Area Council — PDP (the only council won by the opposition)
The APC’s sweep in five councils is seen as a strong signal of voter preference in the FCT, where the party has steadily built influence since 2015. The single loss in Kwali is attributed to lingering local grievances and effective grassroots mobilisation by the PDP candidate.
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APC National Chairman Dr. Nentawe Yilwatda described the outcome as “a clear vote of confidence in President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and Governor Mohammed Bello’s stewardship of the FCT.” He added:
“The people of the Federal Capital Territory have spoken. They want continuity, development and stability. This victory positions the APC strongly for 2027 in the FCT and across the country.”
Political Implications for 2027
The FCT is politically strategic: it hosts the seat of power, has a large civil service population, and serves as a bellwether for national sentiment.
Controlling five of six area councils gives the APC a commanding ground game, control of local government resources, and a strong delegate base for future primaries and campaigns.
Opposition parties (PDP, LP, ADC, NNPP) now face an uphill battle in the FCT, where voter apathy and low turnout (averaging ~15–20% in urban centres) favoured the incumbent party’s machinery.
The Area Council elections also saw APC candidates win the majority of councillorship seats across the six councils, further entrenching the party’s control of local governance structures in the FCT.
By Ogungbayi Beedee Adeyemi
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