The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared winners of the Bwari, Gwagwalada and Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) chairmanship elections held on February 21, 2026, in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
In Bwari Area Council, Mr. Joshua Ishaku of the All Progressives Congress (APC) emerged winner after polling 18,466 votes.
Announcing the result on Sunday, the Returning Officer, Prof. Mohammed Nurudeen, said Ishaku satisfied all legal requirements and was duly returned elected.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate secured 4,254 votes to place second, while the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) candidate came third with 3,515 votes.
The election was conducted across 10 wards of the council — Igu, Shere, Dutse, Ushafa, Byazhin, Kuduru, Kubwa, Usuma, Bwari Central and Kawu.
Meanwhile, in Gwagwalada Area Council, INEC declared Mr. Mohammed Kasim of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as winner of the chairmanship election.
The Returning Officer, Prof. Philip Akpeni, announced that Kasim polled 22,165 votes to defeat his closest rival.
READ ALSO: Gov. Yusuf’s Defection: The 60/40 Formula, Unity or Uneasy Truce in Kano APC?
The APC candidate, Mr. Yahaya Usman, scored 17,788 votes, while Mr. Biko Umar of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) secured 1,687 votes to finish third.
Voting in Gwagwalada took place in 10 wards — Paiko, Dobi, Gwako, Ibwa, Staff Quarters, Zuba, Ikwa, Kutunku, Gwagwalada Centre and Tunga Maje.
In Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), INEC declared the incumbent chairman, Mr. Christopher Maikalangu of the APC, re-elected after securing 40,295 votes out of 62,861 valid votes cast.
The AMAC Collation Officer, Prof. Andrew Abue, announced that Maikalangu scored the highest number of votes and met all legal requirements to be returned elected.
According to INEC, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) came second with 12,109 votes, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) polled 3,398 votes.
The commission disclosed that rejected votes stood at 2,336, bringing the total votes cast to 65,197. Out of 837,338 registered voters, 65,676 were accredited for the election.
Results released by INEC showed votes scored by other parties, including APGA (1,111), NNPP (1,694), SDP (2,185), YPP (421), ZLP (189), ADP (588), Accord Party (403), Action Alliance (108), Allied Peoples Movement (122), Action Peoples Party (32), Boot Party (43), National Rescue Movement (73) and Peoples Redemption Party (90).
Speaking after the announcement, APC Collation Agent, Gambo Babale, described the election and collation process as credible and transparent, commending INEC for conducting what he called a well-organised exercise.
READ ALSO: Wike Declares Work-Free Day, Movement Restriction Ahead of Area Council Elections
He noted that opposition parties also won councillorship seats in some wards, which he said reflected the transparency of the process, and urged the winner to deliver more dividends of democracy to residents.
Similarly, the Young Progressives Party (YPP) Ward Collation Agent, Abdullahi Ibrahim, described the collation exercise as transparent and congratulated the winner.
INEC said result sheets were duly signed by party agents of ADC, APC, APGA, YPP and NNPP present at the collation centre.
The declarations conclude chairmanship contests in the three area councils as part of the 2026 FCT Area Council elections.
