According to the Independent National Electoral Commission, more than 1.5 million voters have obtained their Permanent Voter Cards in the Federal Capital Territory’s six area councils in advance of the elections scheduled for February 21, 2026.
The statement coincides with the Federal Capital Territory’s Minister, Nyesom Wike, announcing Friday, February 20, 2026, as a day off from work and restricting travel from 8 p.m. on Friday to 6 p.m. on Saturday in preparation for the election.
To choose chairman and council members for the FCT’s six area councils, the electoral authority set a date of February 21.
Political parties called for citizens to actively participate in the polls in all six FCT local councils as they wrapped off their campaigns on Thursday night.
Voters will cast ballots to choose chairmen and council members in the Abuja Municipal Area Council, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje, Abaji, and Kwali.
There are 68 posts up for grabs, including 62 councillorships and six chairmanships.
The commission revealed that as of the close of collecting on February 10, 2026, 1,680,315 voters were registered in the FCT, according to a statement signed by Mr. Muhammad Haruka, the National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee.
“Of this figure, 1,587,025 PVCs have been collected, representing an overall collection rate of 94.4% while 93,290 PVCs remain uncollected,” the statement states.
A comparison of the numbers for the six local municipalities reveals a high PVC collection turnout.
Out of 79,471 registered voters, 75,517 PVCs were collected in the Abaji Area Council, according to the statement, which represents a 95.0% collection percentage.
93.5% of the 295,711 registered voters, or 276,360 PVCs, were collected, according to the Bwari Area Council.
While Kuje Area Council recorded 144,109 collected PVCs out of 148,286 registered voters, indicating a 97.2% collection percentage, Gwagwalada Area Council reported 196,184 collected PVCs out of 208,057 registered voters, signifying 94.3%.
Out of 107,203 registered voters, Kwali Area Council collected 99,774 PVCs, or 93.1%.
Out of 841,587 registered voters, 795,081 PVCs were collected in the Abuja Municipal Area Council, representing a collection rate of 94.5%.
The commission observed that multiple units had collection rates above 99 percent at the Registration Area level, indicating what it called robust grassroots involvement throughout the region.
“The commission commends voters in the FCT for their cooperation and responsiveness during the CVR and PVC collection exercises,” it said.
“The outstanding results across all area councils show that citizens are very eager to take part in the election process.”
INEC reaffirmed that on election day, only properly registered voters with valid PVCs will be permitted to cast ballots.
In order to guarantee a free, fair, and credible election, the commission has made all the required preparations, the statement continued.
Earlier on Thursday, Wike encouraged citizens to cast their ballots in a special broadcast on national radio and television stations.
His Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, signed a press release that included his broadcast.
Wike announced the movement restriction and work-free day, stating that President Bola Tinubu had given his approval to enable citizens to travel to their localities and guarantee a seamless polling process.
“I thus declare Friday, February 20, 2026, a day off from work with President Bola Tinubu’s assent so that inhabitants can travel to their various areas to take part in the elections.
The President has also given his approval to limit mobility within the FCT from Friday, February 20, at 8 p.m., to Saturday, February 21, 2026, at 6 p.m.
“Therefore, it is imperative that all security agencies make sure that this directive is strictly followed,” he stated.
In the election, Wike urged citizens to exercise their rights and take an active part.
He went on, “I implore every citizen of the FCT to speak up. On Saturday, February 21, 2026, cast your ballot for your preferred candidates.
“As a government, we pray that the elections will help produce such capable leaders who will make a significant contribution to the FCT’s growth, peace, and prosperity.
“Let us construct a more promising future for our children, our region, and ourselves together.”
“The election of chairmen and council members for the six area councils, whether new or returning, is a momentous occasion, and I urge you to come out in your numbers to exercise your right to vote,” the minister continued.
“I implore you to cast your ballots with urgency and accountability.
“Let’s exercise our democratic right in a lawful and peaceful manner. It is important that we respect the election results, the regulations, and each other.
“We have to demonstrate to the world that we are an adult and responsible electorate that can behave with honor and decency.”
By signing the Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2026, the president demonstrated his commitment to bolstering democratic institutions and guaranteeing free, fair, and transparent elections, the minister said.
In the meantime, Zadna Dantani, the PDP’s chairperson candidate for the Abuja Municipal Area Council, announced her withdrawal from the race on Thursday ahead of the poll.
His next statement was that he supported Christopher Makaleng, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress.
Less than twenty-four hours had passed since Julius Adamu, the PDP’s candidate for the Bwari Area Council chairmanship, resigned to make way for Joshua Musa, the APC’s nominee.
Speaking to supporters, Dantani said that Wike’s interference was the reason for his withdrawal.
The minister’s media assistant, Lere Olayinka, handed our correspondent a video in which Dantani stated: “My name is Hon. Zadna Dantani, and I am the Peoples Democratic Party’s chairmanship candidate in the Abuja Municipal Area Council for the Area Council elections on Saturday.
“I want to express my profound gratitude to everyone who helped us, and we are doing this by God’s grace rather than our own interests.
I’m here to inform my people that, as a candidate for this election, I have decided to run today in response to the intervention of Nyesom Wike, the Honourable Minister of FCT and our party’s leader. Wike has called my attention to the fact that this is a brotherhood election. In addition, I’m doing this to support President Bola Tinubu’s great actions.
He said that togetherness, not rivalry, was the foundation of the election.
“I write to respectfully inform you that I, Hon. Zadna Dantani of Gosa Village along Airport Road FCT Abuja, a member and the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, have decided to voluntarily withdraw from contesting for the Chairmanship position of Abuja Municipal Area Council, in the forthcoming Area Council Elections which are scheduled to hold on February 21, 2026, after due other consideration and thorough consultation with my Family and relevant stakeholders,” Dantani wrote in a letter to INEC on February 18, 2026, which our correspondent.
SDP: FCT citizens will choose the winners.
Wike cannot decide the results of Saturday’s FCT Area Council elections, according to Adewole Adebayo, the Social Democratic Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, who made this assertion on Thursday.
While campaigning in Apo, Abuja, for Obinna Simon, also known as MC Tagwaye, the SDP’s AMAC chairmanship candidate, who is well-known for imitating the late former President Muhammadu Buhari, he made the statement.
Adebayo called on supporters at his gathering site to oppose any effort to install leaders from outside the FCT.
“This city, which God has given us and which is designated as our capital city in our constitution, is where we shall remain. There will be periods of government.
He remarked, “So, let’s thumbprint Doki the horse with our fingers on Saturday and choose Obinna Simon “MC Tagwaye” to be our next AMAC chairman.”
In addition, the former presidential candidate criticized President Bola Tinubu’s administration and connected local governance problems in the Federal Capital Territory to larger national politics.
