Politics

Saturday elections: Mahama, Boni Yayi, other African leaders arrive in Abuja

Published

3 years ago

February 24, 2023

Former Ghanaian president, John Mahama, and former Benin president, Boni Yayi of the West African Elders Forum, WAEF election mediation mission, have arrived Abuja to observe the Saturday presidential and national assembly elections.

The communications officer, Goodluck Jonathan Foundation, Wealth Ominabo, disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja.

Mr Ominabo also confirmed the arrival of former Burkinabe Prime Minister and President of the ECOWAS, Kadre Ouedraogo; and former Deputy Chair of the African Union, Dr Erastus Mwencha.

Also in the team were former vice president of The Gambia, Fatoumata Tambajang, and Board member of Goodluck Jonathan Foundation, Adebayo Olukoshi.

Mr Ominabo said that as former leaders of the sub-region, the mission were in the country to lend their support to the democracy consolidation efforts in Nigeria.

He said that the mission would on Saturday v isit polling stations in Abuja to observe election day procedures and results collation processes.

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He listed other members of the mission to include representatives from Open Society-Africa, including Muthoni Wanyeki; director for Policy and Engagement, George Kegoro; and division director for Participation and Expression, Hawa Ba.

The executive director of Goodluck Jonathan Foundation and Head of the WAEF Secretariat, Ann Iyonu, said the elders would be engaging with stakeholders in Nigeria to ensure peaceful and successful elections.

“The respected leaders will chiefly be on hand to engage key stakeholders including the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), international organisations, security authorities, candidates and other key stakeholders, towards ensuring free and fair processes as well as peaceful outcomes.”

Mr Iyonu described WAFF as a non-partisan platform for past Heads of State and Government, former Presidents of the ECOWAS Commission and other prominent statesmen in West Africa.

“The role of WAEF Mission is to provide advisory, mediation and conflict resolution support services to the political leaders of the sub-region.”

He recalled that in December 2022, WAEF deployed a three-man delegation to Nigeria to undertake a pre-election mediation mission.

The delegation made up of former President of Sierra Leone, Ernest Bai Koroma; former vice president of the Gambia, Fatoumata Tambajang.

Mohammed Ibn Chambers, former President of the ECOWAS Commission and former Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General and Head of the UNOWAS was also present.

Mr Iyonu said that members of the Mission would remain in the country until the election procedures were peacefully concluded.

“The mission’s engagements in the country will be guided by the experience and wisdom of its members who, as former Presidents and leaders in the sub-region, had managed elections and overseen successful conflict resolution and peace processes,” she said.

NAN

Politics

Tinubu Hails Wike as APC Dominates 2026 FCT Area Council Elections

Published

2 hours ago

February 22, 2026

Trends Admin

President Bola Tinubu and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike

Tinubu Hails Wike as APC Dominates 2026 FCT Area Council Elections

President Bola Tinubu has commended the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, for his outstanding contributions to the success of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the recently concluded 2026 FCT Area Council elections.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) conducted polls across the six area councils of the FCT — Abaji, Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje, and Kwali — on February 21, 2026. The APC secured victories in Abaji, AMAC, Bwari, and Kwali, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won in Gwagwalada.

In a statement issued by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Sunday, Tinubu congratulated all successful candidates and praised the peaceful and credible conduct of the elections, noting the efforts of INEC, security agencies, and voters.

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The President singled out Minister Wike — a member of the opposition PDP — for special commendation, saying his work in the FCT contributed to significant political gains for the APC. The statement read:

“President Tinubu commends the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, for his remarkable achievements in the territory, which have yielded political dividends to the governing APC. He congratulates the APC national leadership, as well as party structures in Kano and Rivers states, for the victories at the polls.”

Tinubu urged newly elected officials to govern with humility, dedication, and patriotism, emphasizing that their mandates are a sacred trust from the people. He also noted that the elections are a boost to Nigeria’s democratic development, reinforcing democratic institutions and culture.

The statement highlighted the importance of continued electoral reforms, calling on INEC to enhance its processes to ensure even more transparent and credible elections in the future.

While the elections were largely peaceful, FCT officials acknowledged that voter turnout varied, being higher in satellite towns than in city centre areas. Minister Wike praised security agencies and residents for maintaining order during the exercise.

The FCT Area Council elections are seen as a significant indicator for the APC’s performance ahead of the 2027 general elections, with the results bolstering the party’s position in key political zones.

Tinubu Hails Wike as APC Dominates 2026 FCT Area Council Elections

Politics

PDP Heads to Court Over FCT Polls, Cites Video Evidence of Irregularities

Published

4 hours ago

February 22, 2026

Trends Admin

PDP Heads to Court Over FCT Polls, Cites Video Evidence of Irregularities

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has announced plans to challenge the outcome of the February 21, 2026 Area Council elections in the Federal Capital Territory, declaring that it is heading to court with what it described as strong video and documentary evidence of electoral irregularities.

The move follows the conclusion of voting across the six FCT area councils — Abaji, Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje and Kwali — with official results released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) showing a clear advantage for the All Progressives Congress (APC).

According to the results, the APC won chairmanship seats in Abaji, AMAC, Bwari and Kwali, while the PDP recorded its only victory in Gwagwalada Area Council.

PDP Sets Up Legal Team

In a statement signed by the party’s spokesperson, Ini Ememobong, the PDP disclosed that it has constituted a special legal team to prosecute all election-related petitions arising from the FCT council polls. The team is headed by the party’s National Legal Adviser, Shafi Bara’u.

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The party urged all its candidates dissatisfied with the election outcomes to immediately submit petitions and supporting materials, warning that delays could weaken their cases at the election tribunals.

Claims of Intimidation and Manipulation

The PDP accused security agencies and other actors of interfering in the electoral process, alleging widespread intimidation, vote suppression, and manipulation at polling units and during result collation.

“We specifically congratulate the Chairman-elect of Gwagwalada Area Council, Mohammed Kasim, and the councillors declared successful by INEC,” the statement said.

“This victory, though fewer than expected, is particularly significant given the background of unprecedented intimidation, high-powered money politics, and brazen executive brigandage witnessed during the elections.”

The party insisted it has visual records allegedly showing armed security personnel carting away result sheets, intimidating voters, and influencing outcomes in several polling units.

Voter Apathy and Electoral Reform

Beyond the legal challenge, the PDP blamed low voter turnout on what it described as declining public trust in Nigeria’s electoral system. The party argued that repeated controversies surrounding elections have weakened confidence among voters.

It warned that the FCT council elections could be a signal ahead of the 2027 general elections if urgent reforms are not implemented.

Call for Intervention

The opposition party called on the President and the National Assembly to urgently intervene by reforming the electoral framework, strengthening transparency, and limiting security interference in elections.

With post-election litigation now looming, political focus in the FCT is shifting from the ballot box to the courtroom as parties prepare for legal battles that could reshape grassroots governance in the nation’s capital.

PDP Heads to Court Over FCT Polls, Cites Video Evidence of Irregularities

Politics

FCT Council polls: APC Wins Four Chairmanship Seats as PDP Takes Gwagwalada

Published

4 hours ago

February 22, 2026

Trends Admin

FCT Council polls: APC Wins Four Chairmanship Seats as PDP Takes Gwagwalada

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has recorded a strong showing in the 2026 FCT Area Council elections, securing four chairmanship seats across the Federal Capital Territory, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) claimed victory in Gwagwalada Area Council.

The elections were conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the six FCT councils — AMAC, Bwari, Kwali, Abaji, Gwagwalada and Kuje — with chairmen and councillors elected to oversee grassroots governance.

AMAC: Maikalangu Re-elected

In Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Christopher Maikalangu of the APC was re-elected after polling 40,295 votes, the highest in the contest. A total of 62,861 valid votes were recorded out of 65,197 votes cast.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) placed second with 12,109 votes, while the PDP trailed with 3,398 votes. Rejected votes stood at 2,336, with 837,338 registered voters and 65,676 accredited voters in the council.

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Bwari: APC Clinches Clear Win

In Bwari Area Council, Joshua Ishaku of the APC emerged winner with 18,466 votes, defeating candidates of the ADC (4,254 votes) and the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) (3,515 votes). The election covered 10 wards, including Kubwa, Ushafa, Dutse, Byazhin and Bwari Central.

Kwali: APC Extends Lead

The APC also won in Kwali Area Council, where Daniel Nuhu secured the chairmanship seat with 17,032 votes, beating Haruna Pai of the PDP who polled 8,575 votes.

Abaji: APC Dominates

In Abaji Area Council, Umar Abdullahi Abubakar of the APC was declared winner after scoring 15,535 votes. The Young Progressives Party (YPP) followed with 5,357 votes, while the PDP recorded 4,547 votes. The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and ADC polled 53 and 37 votes respectively.

Gwagwalada: PDP Breaks APC Run

The PDP secured its only victory so far in Gwagwalada Area Council, preventing an APC sweep of the FCT councils.

Kuje Result Awaited

As of the time of filing this report, results from Kuje Area Council were still being awaited, with collation ongoing and an official announcement expected shortly.

Election Snapshot

So far, the APC has won in AMAC, Bwari, Kwali and Abaji, while the PDP has taken Gwagwalada, leaving Kuje as the final undecided council. The polls were largely peaceful, though voter turnout varied across councils.