FCT Area Council Polls: Residents Defy Movement Restrictions Amidst Logistical Delays

By Awwal Owolabi

21 February 2026

Politics

Several residents across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) moved about freely on Saturday morning, defying a strict movement restriction order put in place for the ongoing area council elections.

In a bid to ensure security during the polls, the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, had previously announced a total restriction on human and vehicular movement across the territory from 8:00 PM on Friday until 6:00 PM on Saturday.

Despite the directive, commercial buses, tricycles, and motorcycles were seen operating without visible hindrance in multiple districts.

Reports indicate that vehicular movement appeared largely unrestricted along Airport Road, Jikwoyi, Nyanya, Kuje, Gwagwalada, and parts of the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), with no security barricades mounted in many of these locations.

However, the situation differed along the Kubwa-Nyanya expressway, where security operatives set up roadblocks with patrol vehicles.

This forced several motorists to divert their routes or drive against traffic in an attempt to bypass the checkpoints.

While movement was fluid in various districts, commercial activities were significantly scaled down. Most major businesses and shops remained firmly locked, though a few point-of-sale (POS) operators, laundry services, and small-scale traders were seen operating in parts of Airport Road.

Meanwhile, the elections kicked off with noticeable logistical delays and a low early turnout in several polling units.

As of 8:10 AM, electoral materials were still being transported from the Kuje central distribution center at Science Primary School to various polling units within the area council.

In Aleyita, along Airport Road, polling units situated at LEA Primary School, which had been collapsed into a single center for convenience, were largely deserted in the early hours.

By 8:26 AM, only five voters, including two party agents, were present at the center. Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had not yet arrived, leaving early voters stranded.

Andrew James, one of the voters, noted that he had been waiting at the unit since 7:00 AM.

Similarly, voting had not commenced at the Pilot Science Primary School in Kwali as of 8:33 AM, though INEC officials were seen on the ground briefing party agents on the day’s election procedures.

The FCT area council elections are taking place across all six area councils, with security agencies deployed to maintain order as the voting process continues.