President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has commended the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, stating that his achievements in the territory yielded political dividends for the ruling All Progressives Congress.

The President’s remarks followed Saturday’s elections conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission in the six area councils of the FCT, as well as by-elections in Ahoada East II and Khana II state constituencies in Rivers State and Kano Municipal and Ungogo constituencies in Kano State.

The APC recorded victories in most of the positions contested.

In a statement issued on Sunday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu congratulated the winners of the elections and lauded stakeholders involved in the process.

According to the statement, the President praised INEC, security agencies and voters for ensuring a peaceful and credible exercise.

Onanuga stated, “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 All Progressives Congress (APC).

“The President congratulates the APC national leadership, Kano and Rivers leaderships, and all members of the party on the victories at the polls.”

Tinubu urged those elected to approach their mandate with a sense of duty and responsibility.

He called on the winners to serve with “humility, patriotism, and dedication and to view the mandate given to them by the people as a sacred trust.”

The President also commended the contestants for their conduct during the polls.

“He further commends the courage and discipline displayed by all the contestants, stating that democracy is enriched with the vibrancy of participation and competition,” the statement added.

While affirming that the successful conduct of the elections further strengthened democratic institutions, Tinubu encouraged INEC to continue improving its processes.

The President called on the electoral body “to continue improving its efforts to deliver even more exemplary electoral processes.”

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.