By Daniel Tyokua
A total of 572 candidates are jostling for the 68 chairmanship, vice chairmanship and councillorship positions in the Saturday, February 21, FCT Area Council Elections.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has cleared the candidates, nominated by 16 political parties, including the ruling APC and main opposition, PDP, will battle for the control of the six area councils.
INEC has scheduled the election for February 21, 2026, which is widely seen as a precursor to the 2027 general elections.
Recall that the Commission released the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the election in 2025, after screening and primaries conducted by the political parties.
In all, 65 candidates (Chairmen and Vice Chairmen ) are vying for the leadership of the six Area Councils while 507 candidates are competing for 62 councillorship positions.
Data released by INEC in 2025 showed poor participation of women in the elective positions as the candidates contesting for the 6 chairmanship positions in the six area councils, are all men.
It also revealed that in AMAC with 12 wards and the highest number of contestants for councillorship position- 127, has 16 candidates vying for chairmanship, under 16 political parties, with 1 female candidate for chairmanship on the platform of Social Democratic Party, 5 female contestants for vice chairmanship, and 3 female councillorship candidates.
Bwari, on the other hand, with 10 wards, and 84 councillorship contestants, has 11 contestants for chairmanship position, under 16 political parties.
Gwagwalada followed with 10 wards, 81 councillorship contenders, 11 chairmanship candidates and no female participation.
In Kwali with 10 wards, 66 councillorship contenders, 9 chairmanship candidates but no female participation.
Meanwhile, 11 chairmanship candidates will be slugging it out on the February 21 election in Kuje Area Council with no female participation for the chairman and vice chairmanship positions, with 80 councillorship candidates.
In Abaji Area Council with 10 political wards, has 69 councillorship candidates, 7 candidates for the chairmanship position.
All the area councils have zero per cent representation of people living with disabilities, in their list of contestants.
Speaking on the election, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has said he will only support whoever supports President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid, regardless of political affiliation in the FCT Area Councils’ election.
The Minister boasted that he owed no one an apology for supporting Tinubu.
A statement issued by Wike’s media aide, Lere Olanyika said, “We have the FCT Area Council election coming up on February 21 and I have a duty to support any candidate that supports President Tinubu to win.
“It is also my duty to ensure that any candidate that is not supporting Tinubu does not win in the election, and I owe no apology on my stand,” Wike said.
