The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has declared Mr Mohammed Kasim of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the winner of the Gwagwalada Area Council chairmanship election in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The Returning Officer for the election, Prof. Philip Akpeni, announced the result on Sunday in Gwagwalada, stating that Kasim polled 22,165 votes to emerge victorious in the Feb. 21, 2026 poll.

“I am the returning officer for the 2026 FCT Area Council, Gwagwalada chairmanship held on Feb. 21, 2026.

“That Mohammed Kasim of PDP, having certified the requirements of the law is hereby declared the winner and is returned elected,” he said.

Akpeni added that the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Mr Yahaya Usman, secured 17,788 votes, while Mr Biko Umar of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) came third with 1,687 votes.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the chairmanship election was conducted across the council’s 10 wards: Paiko, Dobi, Gwako, Ibwa, Staff Quarters, Zuba, Ikwa, Kutunku, Gwagwalada Centre and Tunga Maje.

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, has fired back at FCT Senator, Ireti Kingibe.

Wike, while speaking on Saturday during the monitoring of the FCT Area Council election, stated that he thought as a Senator, Kingibe should be able to read.

According to the minister, he did not impose curfew without the approval of President Bola Tinubu.

Recall that Senator Kingibe had blown hot on Friday on the curfew stating that the action of the minister was unacceptable in a democratic society.

“It is unfortunate, I thought as a Senator she should be able to read. I never imposed a curfew on my own. I said with the approval of Mr. President,” Wike responded.

On Thursday, Wike, in a special broadcast declared Friday a work-free day in the nation’s capital in preparation for the council polls.

He, thereafter, announced a restriction on human and vehicular movement across the FCT from 8pm on Friday to 6pm on Saturday.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) defeated All Progressives Congress (APC) to win its first polling unit in the ongoing Area Council Elections in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The election, which recorded widespread low turnout of voters, saw the opposition coalition carrying the day at polling unit 076, Sani Abacha Estate, Wuse, Zone 4, where Dr. Moses Paul, candidate of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), cast his ballot.

Of the 10 ballots cast at the voting point, ADC took the majority of 7, APC trailed with two, while one vote was declared invalid.

Earlier, Paul had alleged intimidation of his party’s agents and blamed the movement restriction for the low turnout announced by the Minister of the FCT for the low voter turnout recorded in parts of the council.

He said the turnout was far lower than expected and attributed it to what he described as confusion created by the restriction directive.

He said he had lived in AMAC for about 40 years and had never witnessed such a situation, noting that the development appeared like “a state of emergency” over what he considered unwarranted.

He said although electoral officials at his polling unit were professional and followed due process, reports reaching him indicated that ADC agents in Takum Shara and parts of Kabusa ward, including Dogongada and Shereti, were allegedly threatened and intimidated.

He added that some agents were allegedly told they would be maimed or killed, and noted that such actions were aimed at suppressing voters and influencing the process in favour of the ruling party.

He said vote buying was criminal and alleged that it was ongoing in parts of the capital city.

He added that despite the challenges, he remained confident of emerging victorious, noting that the will of the people would prevail and urging Nigerians to resist intimidation and demand accountable leadership.