The National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ini Ememobong, has declared that “a lot of things went wrong” in the just-concluded FCT Area Council elections held on Saturday, February 21, 2026.
Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief programme on Monday, February 24, 2026, Ememobong criticised the conduct and preparation of the polls, pointing to several factors he said undermined credibility and voter participation.
Key Criticisms Raised by Ememobong: Unnecessary 22-hour curfew Described as “absolutely unnecessary” despite warnings from critical stakeholders, and likely contributed to low voter turnout and intimidation.
Conflicting signals from authorities: Dissonance between statements by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and the FCT Police Command created confusion and eroded trust.
Minister Wike’s high-profile presence: Ememobong reminded Wike that “he is not the governor of the FCT” and argued that the large crowd accompanying the minister could compromise election integrity.
Broader implications for 2027: Described the FCT polls as a possible “foreshadowing” of what could happen in the 2027 general elections if issues are not addressed. He revealed that opposition parties are already meeting and will soon release a joint position on electoral reforms.
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Ememobong emphasised that “elections cannot just be a date on the calendar; elections must reflect the will of the people,” warning that persistent flaws could deepen public disillusionment and fuel post-election disputes.
The APC won five of the six area council chairmanship seats (Abuja Municipal, Abaji, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje), with PDP retaining only Kwali. Voter turnout remained low (averaging 10–20% in urban areas), amid reports of vote buying, logistical delays, and security restrictions.
The PDP has rejected results in some councils, alleging irregularities, while civil society groups have called for a review of the exercise as a test case for the 2027 polls.
INEC has yet to respond formally to the PDP’s criticisms, but the commission previously described the polls as “largely peaceful” with no major violence reported.
By Ogungbayi Beedee Adeyemi
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