From Victor Osula, Abuja
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) winners of the Bwari, Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), and Kwali Area Council chairmanship elections, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) secured victory in Gwagwalada Area Council in the 2026 Federal Capital Territory (FCT) area council polls held on Saturday, February 21, 2026.
In the Bwari Area Council, INEC declared Mr Joshua Ishaku of the APC the winner after he polled a total of 18,466 votes to defeat his closest rivals.
Announcing the results on Sunday, the Returning Officer, Prof. Mohammed Nurudeen, said the African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate scored 4,254 votes, while the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) candidate garnered 3,515 votes, placing second and third, respectively. The election was conducted across 10 wards, including Igu, Shere, Dutse, Ushafa, Byazhin, Kuduru, Kubwa, Usuma, Bwari Central and Kawu.
Similarly, INEC returned the incumbent chairman of the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Mr Christopher Maikalangu of the APC, as the winner of the chairmanship election after polling 40,295 votes. The AMAC Collation Officer, Prof. Andrew Abue, said the election recorded 62,861 valid votes out of a total of 65,197 votes cast. According to him, the ADC came second with 12,109 votes, while the PDP placed third with 3,398 votes. He added that AMAC has 837,338 registered voters and 65,676 accredited voters for the poll.
In Gwagwalada Area Council, the PDP recorded its only victory so far, as its candidate, Mr Mohammed Kasim, emerged winner with 22,165 votes. Declaring the result, the Returning Officer, Prof. Philip Akpeni, said Kasim satisfied all legal requirements and was duly returned elected. The APC candidate, Mr Yahaya Usman, polled 17,788 votes to come second, while Mr Biko Umar of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) scored 1,687 votes. The election was held in 10 wards, including Paiko, Dobi, Gwako, Ibwa, Staff Quarters, Zuba, Ikwa, Kutunku, Gwagwalada Centre and Tunga Maje.
Meanwhile, in the Kwali Area Council, APC candidate, Daniel Nuhu, clinched victory with 17,032 votes, defeating PDP’s Haruna Pai, who polled 8,575 votes.
With these results, the APC has so far won three of the six area councils in the FCT, while the PDP has secured one. INEC said results from the remaining two area councils are still being awaited as collation continues.
