The Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD-West Africa) has raised serious concerns over the conduct of the 2026 Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council Elections, citing last-minute polling unit reassignments, operational failures, and rampant vote buying as significant threats to electoral integrity.
In a report released on Sunday by the CDD’s Election Analysis Centre (CDD-EAC), the group noted that while the exercise was relatively peaceful, poor administrative coordination and logistical gaps disenfranchised a notable number of voters across the sixty-two wards of the FCT.
Chaos Over Polling Units
One of the most pressing issues identified was the sudden reassignment of voters to new polling units without prior notification. According to the report, many residents arrived at their traditional voting spots only to be told their names had been moved.
“This last-minute administrative adjustment created confusion and frustration among voters and polling officials alike,” stated Dr. Dauda Garuba, Director of CDD-West Africa. “We are concerned that this development contributed to low voter turnout and undermined public confidence in the administration of the elections.”
At Polling Unit 055 on Ouagadogou Street in Wuse, observers documented over 20 voters who were unable to cast their ballots due to these changes. The situation was worsened by movement restrictions, which prevented many from traveling to their newly assigned, often distant, locations.
Operational Failures and BVAS Glitches
The CDD-EAC highlighted systemic operational gaps that delayed accreditation and voting. In several instances, INEC officials arrived with incorrect Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines, while other devices failed to authenticate registered voters.
Significant discrepancies were noted in Kuje and AMAC, where voter registers were either incomplete or missing entirely. Specifically, at PU 004, Wuse Zone 2, only 504 names were displayed out of a registered 751, leading to heated arguments between officials and the public.
Vote Trading and Electoral Malpractice
The report painted a grim picture of financial inducement, with vote buying recorded across multiple Area Councils. Observers reported that inducements ranging from ₦1,000 to ₦10,000 offered by party agents, the arrest of suspected vote traders by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Gwagwalada, and the arrest of a woman at Kabusa Primary School found in possession of more than 20 permanent voter cards (PVCs).
In Gwagwalada and Kuje, party agents were seen openly negotiating with voters, and in some cases, voters displayed their marked ballots to agents to “confirm” the transaction before payment.
Security Disruptions and Tear Gas Incidents
While the environment was largely calm, isolated violence broke out in Abaji Area Council. At PU 003, AU Suleman, an unidentified individual accompanied by a security agent entered a polling unit without accreditation. The resulting confrontation led to the use of tear gas, causing voters to flee and sparking reports of missing ballot papers.
A Wake-Up Call for 2027
As the FCT elections serve as a litmus test for upcoming off-cycle polls in Ekiti and Osun, the CDD has urged INEC to undertake a procedural overhaul.
“These operational gaps point to systemic issues that require urgent attention ahead of the 2027 General Elections,” the report concluded, signed by both Dr. Dauda Garuba and Professor Victor Adetula, Chair of the CDD-EAC.
The organization concluded by commending the resilience of FCT voters but insisted that timely communication and institutional preparedness remain the only path to safeguarding Nigeria’s democratic process.
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