FCT Poll: Parties Rush to Address Crises as INEC Finalizes Candidate List

Political Parties in FCT Prepare for Upcoming Area Councils’ Election

Following the release of final candidates and the lifting of the ban on political campaigns ahead of the upcoming Area Councils’ election in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), leaders of participating political parties are working hard to address internal crises that arose from various primary elections. The parties’ hierarchies are also mobilizing and fine-tuning their campaign strategies ahead of the polls.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) lifted the ban on campaigning for the poll and directed participating political parties to commence their campaign activities from Wednesday, September 24, to Thursday, February 19, 2026. A statement by Sam Olumekun, INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, emphasized that parties and candidates must be given unimpeded access to public facilities for media campaigns, outdoor advertising, and public rallies and meetings. This directive aligns with Section 95(2) of the Electoral Act, 2022, which prohibits the use of incumbency to the advantage or disadvantage of any party or candidate.

The electoral body had earlier released the names of the 17 chairmanship candidates for the election, as well as those of the councillorship candidates. Following the go-ahead given by the electoral body, stakeholders and chieftains of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP), and other parties have begun to mobilize for the poll.

A cross-section of leaders from major political parties in the election said they were already meeting to determine the focus of their campaigns. Stakeholders from opposition parties such as the PDP, Labour Party (LP), NNPP, ADP, and APGA affirmed their readiness to fully participate in both the chairmanship and councillorship elections, stating they were already mobilizing to resolve various crises that arose from their respective primary elections.

Internal Challenges and Unity Efforts

Alhaji Ibrahim Suleiman, an APC stakeholder in Kuje Area Council, told our reporter that the party has successfully overcome its internal challenges from the primaries, saying all aspirants have unanimously resolved to rally around the approved candidate. He noted that although tension brewed before the primaries, with 11 chairmanship aspirants initially showing interest, key stakeholders and party chieftains intervened, leading the aspirants to unite under one umbrella to pave the way for a single candidate.

“In fact, just on Tuesday, APC stakeholders and party chieftains met again in Kuje where we fine-tuned some grey areas and unanimously resolved to deliver our candidate and the party during the February 21, 2026, election,” he said. He added, “So, as far as APC is concerned in Kuje Area Council, there is no internal crisis because all the key stakeholders, including party chieftains, have come together as one family in order to see how we can deliver the party at the polls.”

However, another APC chieftain, Yakubu Musa, in Gwagwalada Area Council, expressed concern over the lack of unity among some key stakeholders in his area council. He noted that since the emergence of the party’s chairmanship candidate, some stakeholders and party chieftains have not been visible in meetings, which he views as a serious concern.

“At least, as a stakeholder, one had expected that some other stakeholders and party chieftains should have come together by now and be deliberating and holding meetings, but such has not been happening, and I am seriously worried that if nothing is done early, it may likely affect the party’s chances at the polls,” he said. Musa, therefore, called on the stakeholders, under the leadership of the council chairman, Alhaji Abubakar Jibrin Giri, to emulate other Area Councils by summoning a stakeholders’ meeting to ensure the party emerges victorious.

Opposition Readiness and Reconciliation Efforts

Mr. Abednego Ishaya, a PDP chieftain in Gwagwalada Area Council, said the opposition party is fully prepared for the forthcoming election, adding that the party has been consulting with relevant stakeholders and party chieftains daily across the ten wards of the council. He also stated that the party has successfully reconciled all aggrieved aspirants and their supporters, who now participate in meetings to strategize for the election.

“And if you can recall during the PDP chairmanship primaries, there were actually some aspirants that lost out, but as I speak to you, those aspirants and their supporters have come under one umbrella to work for the victory of the party, and we shall emerge victorious come February 21, 2026,” he affirmed.

Meanwhile, a chieftain of the Labour Party in Gwagwalada Area Council, Dangana Samuel, noted that the exclusion of his party’s chairmanship candidate from the INEC list may cause a serious setback for the party’s victory. He called it unfortunate that INEC released the names of other candidates without that of the Labour Party, despite all processes being observed, stressing the need for INEC to include the party’s candidate’s name.

“I can’t imagine that the name of the Labour Party candidate was not captured in the INEC list that was released. This may likely demoralize the supporters and also affect the chances of the party winning at the polls,” he lamented.

Kabiru Alhassan, an APC chieftain in Bwari Area Council, also noted that despite INEC releasing the name of the party’s chairmanship candidate, stakeholders still need to do more by reconciling with aggrieved members to ensure the party’s victory.

“The truth is that the wounds have not been healed in the Bwari APC Chairmanship primaries where two aspirants emerged, as they both displayed INEC certificates. Even though INEC has released the list where one candidate is recognized as the main flag bearer, the stakeholders still need to come together to heal the wounds, or else, the PDP or another party you don’t expect may win the election,” he cautioned.

Confidence in Victory and Calls for Fair Play

The FCT State PDP Chairman, Alhaji Ismaila Mohammed Yenche, said the opposition PDP is fully prepared to participate and win the forthcoming election across the six area councils. He noted that the PDP currently controls three area councils and expressed confidence that the party’s performance will ensure its victory. He also urged INEC to maintain decorum and create a free, level playing ground for all parties at the polls.

“As far as PDP is concerned in the FCT, we don’t have any crisis, as we have put a reconciliation committee in place that went around across the six area councils to ensure all the aggrieved aspirants and their supporters come together as one family to work for the victory of the party come February 21, 2026,” he said.

The FCT State APC Chairman, Alhaji Abdulmalik Usman, who also spoke with our reporter via telephone, expressed confidence in winning the forthcoming chairmanship election across the six area councils. He said, “Just last week, all APC stakeholders and party chieftains met at a meeting presided over by our Minister and leader, Hon. Zaphaniya Jisalo, where we deliberated extensively, especially about those who were still aggrieved. And I can tell you that APC is now one family, and we shall emerge victorious at the polls, God willing.”